Creative village

                

       ‘4ROOM CREATIVE VILLAGE’

 

 

On a Sunday evening whilst returning from buying drinks I bumped into an old high school acquaintance who goes by the name Happy. He suggested we go to this other event in the nearby neighbourhood. Of which I acquiesced. Arriving at the venue we sat ourselves by the table arrangements laid out on the street. In front of us a stage was set with live musical performances on display. My initial thinking was we are just going to kill time here.

All this changed when I had settled down. I found the setup really inviting, cordial and organic. It was something that was meant to be there. Amidst all the music, laughter and chatter my eyes began to dart towards some canvases that hung from the wall dividing the house that was hosting us from the other.  The wall starts near the street and goes further in to join the back wall of the yard. The house did not have a front wall hence I was able to get a clear vision on that dividing side wall.  

                               

‘Magic began to unravel before my eyes…’

 

From the corner of my eyes I saw images. As an art enthusiast I was not going to sit there without further probing. I started on my feet. As soon as I saw the first painting magic began to unravel before my eyes. Each painting leads you to the next until you’ve completed an L shaped wall art exhibition.

Interpretation of the Mursi tribe

I must confess I nearly missed this work of wonder. I had been seated outside on the street where I’ve said a stage was set enjoying the acts that were on. Once I stood and observed the fine art on display I was immediately immersed. My scorn and observance from afar and the subsequent conclusion that this wasn’t worth my attention was completely shuttered. As I commenced to scrutinise what I was seeing and proceeded even further into the house (led by the creative director of this event) I was hooked and my senses alighted.

Mpho Kekana is an artist and creative director of the 4room creative village. This is where everything unfolds. The live performances, art installation and gourmet pizza cooking. Mpho uses his living space as his gallery as well. The kitchen, bedrooms and literally every one of the rooms in the house is sprouting with his gems.

On the exchanges we had he tells me that he studied fine arts for only 6 months at a local varsity. This however has clearly not been a deterrent in his picking up the brush to express and interpret reality and his idealism. A motif that stands out in one to two of his pieces is the stark black background which allows gives and affords room and space for his objects to take the central focus.

            Portrait of artist's grandmother

When he gets to that level where he has learned to refine his technique the world will surely be on his feet. This self-made artist reminds me of prominent local artist Nelson Makamo whose work has reached a global appreciation scale with patrons boasting the likes of Oprah Winfrey. A similar feature of their work is that they seek to promote a positive and hopeful image of their African subjects.

I see ambition in his artwork. Mpho the artist, director and creator of the first art gallery in my town has aspirations of showcasing in London, New York and Paris. That aspiration isn’t farfetched. He’s more than capable.

When I saw the art installation at that government provided abode it hit a cord in my heart and it registered in my mind that we the youth are going to pull ourselves up by the laces of our own boots. Pull ourselves out of poverty, unemployment, futility and crude inequality that’s being perpetuated by the lingering vestiges of the old system.

                                                  

‘We need to rewrite the African narrative’

                                                                       

The four room house made by the old white supremist state in a location far from places of work yet close enough for the inhabitants to commute to work Kekana has changed from being simply that erection of separation and racial prejudice to be a beacon of hope and lofty aspirations worthy even of the world’s attention and admiration.

Kekana’s work, ambition and aspiration tells me we need to rewrite the African narrative. Redefine ourselves, our identity in a positive light. Not told to us through western lenses and perspectives. It’s high time for a more authentic African perspective to assume a centre stage to shine forth as told by its people to the rest of the world. What better vehicle is there to drive through this new narrative than art itself.