Bubblegum Club

Author: Christa Dee and Marcia Elizabeth

  • New Photographic series ‘Like Flowers Grow’ by TRYBE COLLECTIVE

    New Photographic series ‘Like Flowers Grow’ by TRYBE COLLECTIVE

    We interviewed members of TRYBE COLLECTIVE about their new series Like Flowers Grow:

     

    Please share more about how you came together as a collective?

    TRYBE COLLECTIVE came together as a collective in early 2017. We started as 4 friends, all living in a house share in the infamous suburb of Observatory, Cape Town, with different artistic abilities. All of us artists with something to say, we soon realized the potential of the collective and thus began the process of transitioning from the individual to the collective. Originally it was just us for 4, Jesse Goosen on styling, Babalwa Tom focused on performance and dance, Ashley Smith working photography and Thuthukile Hlatshwayo on I.T. programming. “Grooves and Groves” was our first child, an event we hosted at ERF81 farm to raise awareness to the farm and its history. As we grew we continued to support each other’s artistic projects plus those of friends around us and soon grew into a larger collective movement.

    What is the thinking behind this series, in terms of mood,  styling and photography?

    The styling, mood and photography of this series was inspired by the name of the series, “Like Flowers Grow”. I also aimed at capturing the queer body as a mythological spirit of nature. This alchemy of “flowers” which occur naturally [and in a mythological way] with its disputed legitimacy, best represented the queer body and the arguments that have been disputed, and continue to be disputed, over such bodies. The whole mood was therefore centered around the galvanizing or play on fact and fantasy (Comfo Mo Czalo – photographer).

    Please share more about the importance of your collective, in relation to the lives of queer people in Zimbabwe?

     As a TRYBE, our aim has always been to raise awareness and support to each other’s artistic endeavors. When Comfo, who is one of our Zimbabwean members, approached us with this idea to start documenting queer bodies in Zimbabwe, we immediately joined them in excitement, seeing this was a topic close to home. We share a vision that such stories will serve as inspiration and strength for the queer body navigating through Zimbabwe on a day to day basis.

    Why do you think art, fashion and photography will help you articulate your collective aims?

    We believe, Art, Fashion, and Photography have an unstoppable potential to stimulate, trigger, inspire, enliven and influence a generation. These also provide a safer space for dialogue.

    What are you hoping will be the impact of your work?

    We can only hope that our work will serve to, trigger and influence a new conversation on the dignity and legitimacy of the queer body in Zimbabwe. At the very least it must serve as awareness to the existence of such people in the community.

    Please share more about the name for this series?

    “The name was very personal to me, I like to view society a living organism, a tree, and I see queer people as the flower parts of that tree, that is, the best part. Additionally, the name came as a play on what is deemed natural and unnatural, as this is still the level of conversation we are at as a society, in the Zimbabwean context.” – Comfo Mo Czalo.

  • OH OK releases its latest lookbook, ‘Mellow Yellow’

    OH OK releases its latest lookbook, ‘Mellow Yellow’

    Yellow. The colour of sunshine, warmth, happiness and OH OK‘s Summer collection. This is what makes the title for the lookbook – ‘Mellow Yellow’ – so fitting. Although the label is still in its infancy stage, having only launched last year, they are running full steam ahead with their designs. Similar to the garments featured in their debut lookbook ‘Orange‘ released in September 2017, their new collection includes simple everyday items with an emphasis on comfort. The minimalist designs of the collection play off the larger than life mountainous landscape and the youthful models encapsulate everything that OH OK sets out to represent – a brand made for young people.

    Various locations in Cape Town served as the backdrop for ‘Mellow Yellow’, creating a narrative around these picturesque views. The intimacy presented in ‘Orange’, which was translated through photographing people in their homes, is carried through in the photographic effects and compositional choices present in the new lookbook images. This triggers memories of hanging out with friends and family on a Sunday afternoon. The inclusion of landscape shots within the lookbook points to the construction of a narrative, and mimics the way in which some memories appear in our minds – as snapshots of faces and powerful scenery.Skillfully captured by the lens of David East, the overall look for ‘Mellow Yellow’ appears slightly different to his other work – the documentation of compositionally sound and strikingly beautiful architectural imagery and natural landscapes. Here we are met with foci on humans, with nature playing a complementary role in the storyline.

    Two fresh-faced models whose looks play off one another are embedded in the natural landscape. They face the viewer in a subtle rebellion, the image is blown out by the sun kissing one of the model’s shoulders. Even though the image has a blown out aspect it is not unappealing. It conveys a cheeky mood and the nature of film softens the blow.In addition to the feelings of nostalgia these images evoke, the pairing of models, the softness of film and lost information in the images creates a mysterious absence in sections. This lost information, sometimes associated with film, does not take away from the images. It enhances them.

    Crisp and clean. A mirror into the souls of youth and an aesthetically appealing lookbook is what is brought to light. The combination of yellow clothing against the green and blue colours of nature elevates the brand’s designs. This lookbook is vivid with life, budding with youth and will make you dream about Summer days.

    Credits:
    Photography by David East
    Concept by OH OK
    Models: Erin Simon, Devon Massey, JQ du Toit, Lara Simon, Lucas Botes and Willow Borain.

    All clothing made in Cape Town, South Africa
    All clothing available for purchase at www.oh-ok-worldwide.myshopify.com  –  Worldwide delivery

  • Creative Sisterhood

    If you’re looking for young womxn who personify the young, creative spirit lingering in Johannesburg, you don’t need to look much further than multidisciplinary artists Jemma Rose and Anne-Marie Kalumbu. They are able to transfer this personification into their work, demonstrating the sense of evolutionary motion that Joburg invokes in creative practitioners.

    Anne-Marie is a well-traveled creative born in Zimbabwe and currently calls Johannesburg her home. Her practice has revolved around mysticism and more recently she has become invested in the memory as an integral theme. Her memories of personal experiences take the physical form of negative film that she burns in order to suggest the power time has to alter memories. She expresses that Johannesburg cannot be removed from her practice as all things are holistic.

    Photography by Marcia Elizabeth

    Jemma grew up in the suburbs of Johannesburg and as a result she was sheltered from the harsher realities of South Africa. She takes photographs in an attempt to understand the world around her and to understand herself. Her work often speaks about queer identity and mental health. She aims to make people question certain realities of living within the city and the world as a whole.

    With the streets as a backdrop, we chatted to them about their city, their work and their plans for 2018.

    Credits:

    DOP & Stylist: Jamal Nxedlana

    Edit & Motion Design: Lex Trickett 

    Sound: Tokyo Black (trashgodd)

    Production & Styling Assistant: Marcia Elizabeth

  • Film, music and art events to attend in 2018

    Get out your diaries. Here is our list of not to miss film, music and art events for 2018:

    Inxeba (The Wound) is on circuit in South Africa

    When: From 2 February

    Where: Throughout the country

    Inxeba (The Wound), South Africa’s official entry to the 2018 Academy Awards for best foreign language film, will be released in South Africa from the 2nd of February. It will be screened at a number of independent movie theatres as well as mainstream movie houses. The film focuses on bringing questions and realities around homosexuality and tradition together. It stars SA musician Nakhane Touré who has received much praise for his performance as initiate Xolani. The movie’s engagement with gender, sexuality and tradition makes it a worthwhile watch.

    Gaika performs in South Africa

    When: Johannesburg – 8 February

    Cape Town – 9 February

    All the way from Brixton in the UK, the dystopian style of Gaika will be greeting South Africans for the first time in February. His childhood was surrounded by various forms of tech and scientific innovation. His current mode of production is inspired by the digitization of humanity. You can look forward to a live performance of some of his recently released tracks, including ‘BATTALION’.

    Click here for more information about the artist.

    Drop in Drawing

    When: 10 February

    Where: Wits Art Museum

    From: 12:00 – 13:00

    For their Valentine’s Day Edition WAM will be hosting Drop in Drawing, and just as the title of the event suggests, all that is required from participants is to come by the gallery during the allocated time slot. No experience or booking is required.

    If a cheesy Valentine’s Day events such as a film screening or dinner is not quite your thing, we’d recommend giving this one a chance. Let your hand lead your chosen implement of mark making and experiment in a gallery environment. Honestly, what could inspire creativity more?

    ‘Cape to Tehran: Re-imaging and re-imagining personal history in post-Apartheid South Africa and post-revolutionary Iran’

    When: 13 February – 29 March

    Where: Gallery MOMO Cape Town

    Opening Tuesday, 13 February at 18:00

    For this group show a diverse set of artists have been selected largely from South Africa and Iran by the curatorial hand of Sepideh Mehraban. The featured artists engage with complexities surrounding their individual country’s histories and legacies of trauma. Emphasis is placed on personal experiences of both conflict and change through their work resulting in the presentation of a multifaceted discussion. This discussion takes on areas of cohesion and divergence between post-apartheid and post-revolutionary Iran.

    ‘Cape to Tehran’ does not take the form of a sole narrative but instead acts as full-bodied conversation amongst artists from varying geographies and generations. This show serves to juxtapose personal encounters of socio-political turmoil experienced by the artists in their motherlands. They create art as a way of reflecting instead of simply representing their experiences of change and conflict.

    Featured artists:

    Kamran Adl | Shagha Ariannia | Patrick Bongoy | Stephanie Conradie | Rory Emmett | Thulile Gamedze | Black Hand | Svea Josephy | Francois Knoetze | Wonder Marthinus | Sepideh Mehraban | Emmanuel de Montbron | Sethembile Msezane | Neda Razavipour | Kathy Robins | Roderick Sauls | Berni Searle | Rowan Smith | Jo Voysey

    Petite Noir & Slow Jack perform at Kirstenbosch 

    When: 21 March

    Where: Cape Town

    As part of the Kirstenbosch Summer Sunset Concerts, Petite Noir and Slow Jack will be performing on the 21st of March. For those who are feeling a little out of the loop, Petite Noir is a Belgian-born Congolese musician and songwriter now based in South Africa. His EP The King of Anxiety and his album La vie est belle / Life Is Beautiful demonstrate why watching him perform live should be on everyone’s bucket list. Slow Jack was formed in 2015, and has grown to include some of Cape Town’s best musical talent. Be sure to have a listen to their Soundcloud as a warm up for the concert. Access tickets for the concert online. The availability of tickets at the venue is dependent on online ticket sales.

    ‘Bakhambile, Parktown’, 2016 by Zanele Muholi

    Stevenson group show BOTH, AND: commemorating 15 years of the gallery’s existence

    When: 7 July – 24 August

    Where: Johannesburg and Cape Town

    The Stevenson gallery turns 15 this year. A commemorative group exhibition titled BOTH, AND will take place from 7 July to 24 August. This exhibition reflects on the foundations that continue to allow the gallery to stand tall in South Africa’s art scene – being a space that has its finger on the pulse of the art market while remaining dedicated to art history and the development of ideas. Two new directors, Sisipho Ngodwana and Alexander Richards, aim to unpack this through their curation of the show. They will look back and look forward, outlining the history of the gallery, its unique publication programme, local presence and global perspective. The show will include artists who began the journey with Stevenson, namely Zanele Muholi, Deborah Poynton, Nicholas Hlobo, Pieter Hugo, Wim Botha, Guy Tillim and Nandipha Mntambo, and those who joined the gallery’s journey at a later stage, like Robin Rhode, Meschac Gaba, Barthélémy Toguo, Penny Siopis and Moshekwa Langa. New and existing work by these artists will tackle the questions, “How have we, over the past fifteen years, collectively navigated the paradox inherent in the commercial gallery model? And what might the future hold?”

    Red Bull Music Festival

    When: 3-8 April

    Where: Johannesburg

    Just when the weather will be getting a little cooler, Red Bull plans to bring the heat to Johannesburg with the Red Bull Music Festival. Trompies, Oskido, Moonchild Sannelly, Moozlie, Stiff Pap and Distruction Boyz are among the musical stars who will be performing at this exciting explosion of sound. The festival has something for everyone, with artists from genres such as jazz, hip hop, electro, gqom and kwaito. Different spots throughout Johannesburg’s inner city will come to life at varying points throughout the festival. These spots include The Orbit, Newtown Music Factory, Republic of 94, Great Dane, and Kitcheners. Be sure to get your tickets online.

    2017 Fak’ugesi theme

    Fak’ugesi African Digital Innovation Festival

    When: September

    Where: Tshimologong Prescinct, Johannesburg

    This year will mark Fak’ugesi’s fifth consecutive run in Johannesburg. The festival is due to take place in September, hosted at the Tshimologong Prescinct in Braamfontein in partnership with British Council ConnectZA. It offers an interactive space to celebrate digital technology, art and culture in Africa. Events and projects that should not be missed at the festival include the Digital Africa Art Exhibition, Market Hack, ColabNowNow, A MAZE and Block party. Dates are subject to change.

  • Young Joburg creatives to look out for in 2018

    Johannesburg has always been associated with a vibrancy, hustle and creative spirit that is kinetic. A city that moves in ways that pay homage to its past lives, while simultaneously rebuilding and redefining its own foundations. A large majority of this can be attributed to the young creatives who follow their raw ambitions. There is a new creative energy in the city that is making its presence known in the streets and online. An energy that permeates as a kind of renaissance that is plugged into an entrepreneurial, “I don’t need your approval” attitude. We have identified four young creatives who embody this creative energy.

    Photgraphy by Sandile Madi

    Ketu Malesa

    Ketu Malesa is an artist and designer, and these creative practices bleed into one other. “My artistic viewpoint influences how I see clothing design. In essence, I view clothing as fine art.” Emphasizing the importance of fluidity in creative practice, particularly at such a young age, Ketu mentioned that he is still honing his artistic style or identity. However, in reference to this answer he mentioned his interests revolve around the fusion between art and fashion.

    Making sure that his work speaks to the South African context, his designs take note from local style subcultures and codes. After expressing his focus is more on style rather than fashion and fashion direction rather than styling, Ketu unpacked his sources of stylistic inspiration. “I’m inspired by style eras, subcultures and style codes as well as everyday mundane style and beauty. I’m also inspired by the past and how it influences the future. Urban youth are also inspiring and how they express themselves.”

    Acknowledging a new creative energy in Johannesburg, Ketu shared that this is visible in the way that young people are taking ownership of their ideas. Mentioning his membership of the collective Bushkoppies, he sees their DIY ethos as a nod to this shift brought in by young creatives. His designs for Bushkoppies are an extension of the larger framework within which he positions his work – the questioning and reworking of sartorial and artistic norms and foundations.

    Bradley Sekiti

    Bradley Sekiti is a dancer who feels that movement is an expansion of emotions and energetic alignments. In grade 10 he realized that he wanted to be a part of the creative industry in Johannesburg. “After doing a couple of shows for the Johannesburg Youth Ballet (the company that I am under) and for the school [NSA] I realised that it was going better than I expected , and I thought why not.” Channeling the positive sonic vibrations of FAKA and Solange, Bradley continues to invest time and effort into improving his skills.

    Having featured in Mykki Blanco’s film Out of this World his confidence about openly expressing his identity has exploded, and this filters into his approach to dance. “The queer culture is supportive to a certain extent because of the platforms that are presented for us to be ourselves, such as Cunty Power and others which gives us a sense of belonging. Those have been the places I’ve been feeding off from because I get to see other people’s success which is inspiring.”

    At the moment he is working on how to use dance in a way that has never been explored before, which he plans to share later this year.

    Artwork by Anne-Marie Kalumbu

    Anne-Marie Kalumbu

    Anne-Marie is a young multi-disciplinary artist born in Zimbabwe and currently calls Johannesburg her home. Her mediums of self-expression span from ink, pen and print making to photographic documentation. Having lived in various parts of the world she expresses that her formative years were distinguished by an ever-changing environment and a characteristic thrill of uncertainty.

    Many of Anne-Marie’s artworks reflect on childhood memories influenced by the various places and spaces she has inhabited over the years. Using memories as the backbone to her practice, she examines the role that they play in the formation of personal identity.

    Photography by Anne-Marie Kalumbu

    This has manifested into an experimental film project at present, involving the burning of negative images and relates to the wear and tear time inflicts upon memory. The negatives she explains, are symbolic to these memories and her forced intervention signifies the ease with which memories can be altered with the passing of time. Thereby regarding time as a powerful destructive force capable of altering our understanding of the past. “I aim to make artworks that contemplate the past whilst facing the brevity of the future. What you forget is as important as what you remember.” Anne-Marie is concerned with pushing the limits of what can be considered as a photograph. An ideal aspiration that she is already starting to conquer.

    Photography by Jemma Rose

    Jemma Rose

    Jemma Rose is a young creative predominantly known for her photographic expression. A suburban childhood had isolated her from the harsher realities of South Africa. Her realization of this sheltered-ness transpired into the objectives of her practice. “I started taking photos to try and understand everything around me.”

    Her message encapsulates topics such as mental health and queer identity. Recently she has  started looking at another point of interest, photographing confusing subject matter. “My aim is to make people question why things are the way they are.”

    Describing herself as an image recorder navigated by gut, Jemma regards photography as a therapeutic practice that eases her experiences of anxiety. Johannesburg has influenced the way in which she thinks about her projects. Currently she is interested in public space and definitions of “safe space” for various womxn from varying milieus.

    Jemma’s work features her friends, dog Lula and anyone she can persuade to pose for her. Aspiring to become more self-focused this year, the young image maker has a promising future ahead of her. In short Jemma’s work indicates a mastering of her own photographic style and can only be described as a feeling.

    Photography by Jemma Rose

  • Jamall Osterholm – genderless apparel for an all-black alien race

    Jamall Osterholm is a 22 year old emerging designer and recent graduate from RISD taking a distinctive look at Afrofuturism by designing genderless apparel for an all-black alien race. With an attempt at influencing the future of black masculinity, he is sculpting the black male body into a genderless construct. With Osterholm describing his collection with Afrofuturist terms and phrases, drawing these out provides a context within which to share his work.

    Afrofuturism could be described as a therapy, a methodology, a school of thought, an imaginary, a lens and a tool for critique and reclamation. People of colour from the African diaspora (and the continent) have used it to make sense of their circumstances and reconstruct a past, present and future. Afrofuturist artists and writers use to figure of the alien as a discursive and creative tool with which to contextualize slavery and to imagine an alternative reality. While what it means to be black and the experiences associated with this differ, one of the main aspects of Afrofuturism is about taking ownership of a black identity. This is expressed through art, music and political activism.

    Throughout history black identity or an understanding of blackness has been framed in relation to whiteness. Through this collection Osterholm makes a reflexive interrogation of blackness, removing it from a Eurocentric gaze and how it has been interpreted as the opposite of whiteness. The concept behind this collection presents a vision of people of colour with a reference to the future. Using the future as a reference extends from the understanding that the past, present as future can be occupied all at the same time.

    Puffer jacket armour. Tailored dresses for the male form. This is the future that Jamall predicts. Jamall uses alien figures as a metaphor for slavery, and explains that he is taking a look at modern black culture as a descendant of slave culture. He follows this linage to ascertain what the future looks like for black culture.

    Jamall defines the looks for his range as the “final form of blackness”. His range is intended to move black people into a changed space of liberation and the freedom of self-expression. His collection addresses stereotypes about black men as hyper-sexual, hyper-masculine and hyper-aggressive. Expressing that his desire to work in menswear came from a desire to create an opportunity for cis black males to express themselves in any way they would like to as he believes that currently this opportunity does not exist. Jamall takes staple collection designs such as the oversized hoodie and tweaks, and changes their silhouettes. He experiments with the cut and shape, which allows him to  feminizes a garment shape that is often seen as hyper masculine. Not only can Jamall be regarded as a sculptor of clothing but his design have the ability to transform the human form into something genderless, alien and a work of art within itself.

    Seldomly do we see a designer take on nearly every aspect of a project as Jamall has with his liberated black alien race. He photographed the visuals himself that pay tribute to understated and often times undervalued facets of the male physique. His male models, nude under their sheer body suits, are not eroticized  or sexualized. Jamall regards his photography just as vital as designing his garments for his process.

    With a sculptured vision for the changes he wishes to implement within the thinking and designing of menswear, Jamall has the drive to make these visions a reality. Perhaps we will find him transcend into another galaxy one day.

  • adidas Originals // continuing to push the envelope with the Adventure Pack

    Bricks, concrete and fencing. The familiar terrain of the urban jungle. In between dilapidated buildings and speeding cars you will find the urban warrior on the hunt for his next digital visual prey. Stalking through his viewfinder, waiting for the right moment to press the button on his camera and let the shutter go in for the kill. Just another day in the metropolitan hunting ground.

    Following the Atric launch, adidas Originals continues to push the envelope with the Adventure Pack. The vibrant, outdoor-inspired collection reimagines five of adidas Originals’ most iconic styles. Two new silhouettes make their way on to the scene, and they are designed to make the urban warrior’s hunt not bound to specific weather conditions. With the use of breakthrough technology, a cool visual aesthetic meets comfort and protection. This is functional streetwear at its best.

    The Tubular Doom is the icon of the Tubular range and exemplifies progress. The aggressive aesthetic of the Tubular Doom sounds in a way unheard of. The NMD_XR1 in change has the most deconstructed look and modern angle from the NMD franchise. With a silhouette that has received increased collar height, this update transpired in the form of a mid sock. The next style that forms a part of the Adventure Pack is the EQT Support ADV. This second generation silhouette is a daring reinterpretation of Equipment and features a mid sock that addresses the weather resistant attitude of the pack in its entirety. The Seeulater boasts as the most fashionable and polarizing silhouette within the Adventure pack. The last style within the pack is the Forum Hi launching with a new, surprisingly high top look.

    Model: Joseph Ntahilaja

    Photography & Styling: Jamal Nxedlana

    Hair & Makeup: Orli Meiri

    Photography Assistant: Lex Trickett

    Styling Assistant: Lebogang Ramfate

  • adidas Atric footwear pack // All elements, all the time.

    Made to fit in with the city explorers who live life to its fullest, Atric Pack is the brand new, four-season Originals footwear concept that is pioneering sneaker technology for all-purpose weather resistance. Never one to shy away from peeling back the city’s visual stories no matter the terrain or weather conditions, the A.F/1.3/4 collection is the next level, must-have addition to the urban warrior’s suit of armor. adidas pays homage to the urban warrior’s passion through the name of their collection which references photography terminology.

    Comfort, protection and style are the three ways in which this collection is presented as offering the perfect partnership for looking at the urban wilderness through a lens.

    The A.F/1.3 was inspired by the German special intelligence group named the GSG9 and the pinnacle of adidas’ Atric concept. A modern reinterpretation focused on functionality and style simultaneously, the A.F/1.3 is a flawless seasonal product. With a circular upper construction for maximized comfort the A.F/1.3 also features a weather resistant insulation package and partial coating on its upper.

    Another sneaker within the Atric Pack is the A.F/1.4 sharing design lines with the high-top silhouette. It does however come in a classic yet progressive trail runner optic and height. As with the A.F/1.3 the sneaker design consists of all the same all-weather technology and details.

    The launch of both of these products will be dominated by white and black sneakers, followed by an assertive outdoor-inspired colour drop.

    The Atric shoot brought the spirit of the urban warrior to life, with Johannesburg CBD as the backdrop. Playing on capturing imagery that highlights the futuristic, dystopian quality of the city, characters in the shoot are styled in a way that evokes the hunt that goes into every urban adventure, whether in abandoned buildings or sitting in a precarious position to get the perfect angle for the shot. The shoot simultaneously conveys the core of the Atric Pack and imagines a future vision of Johannesburg and its subcultures.

    Model: Joseph Ntahilaja

    Photography & Styling: Jamal Nxedlana

    Hair & Makeup: Orli Meiri

    Photography Assistant: Lex Trickett

    Styling Assistant: Lebogang Ramfate

  • The Nike Dualtone Racer and Air Zoom Mariah // Faster than the speed of life

    Minimal. Modern. Fast. These are the words that describe the new Nike Dualtone Racer and Nike Air Zoom Mariah, two of three sneakers in Nike’s Fast Pack. Both capture the energy of city living in their clean design and the technology used to ensure comfort. Inspired by the look and feel of the 80s track, minimal uppers and low profile tooling make this new line of sneakers light and breathable.

    The Air Zoom Mariah Flyknit Racer was inspired by the 1988 Nike advertisement featuring the original Mariah with the slogan, “They Came. They Saw. They Kicked Butt.” Taking this as a point of departure, these short punch lines have molded thinking around the Mariah as a shoe which fits modern-day fast-paced lifestyles, allowing wearers to be conquerors in their own disciplines.

    The features and benefits of the modern Mariah are an adaptive Flyknit upper with external heel counter and spray swoosh, the midsole of the sneaker has a Zoom Air Unit in its heel and a CMP outsole that contains a traction pattern inspired by the outsole pattern design of the original Mariah.

    The forefather of the Dualtone Racer, the Nike Duelist, was first released in 1988 and during this time the sneaker had made an impression on the running community as it contained exceptionally lightweight Phylon cushioning. The modern take on the Duelist, the Dualtone Racer features an engineered mesh upper. The upper has no-sew film on the quarter nods and has a TPU piece located on the heel counter providing a locked-down fit to the wearer’s foot. The midsole’s qualities are that of dual-density that has been injected into the unit’s sole – with an immense durability that enables it to double as the outsole. This in turn reduces the overall weight of the Dualtone Racer. It’s outsole features a thin web outsole that offers traction and creates a flexible feel for the wearer.

    Neon orange braids make reference to the 80s, but combined with the dangling cowrie shell above the models forehead, this editorial immediately places the Mariah and Dualtone Racer within an Afro-inspired relationship with 80s fashion. An orange snakeskin bodysuit, multicoloured leggings and dual tone cycling shorts not only play on the name of one of the sneakers, but also highlights the history of the shoe and the foundation of its design coming from being inspired by the 80s track.

     

    Photography and Styling by Jamal Nxedlana

    Hair by Mimi Duma

    Makeup by Katelyn Gerke

    Photography Assistant: Lex Trickett

    Styling Assistant Lebogang Ramfate

    Model: Boikanyo Nkoane

     

  • Fak’ugesi Digital Africa Residency // A Conversation with the Artists

    The annual month-long Fak’ugesi residency which continues into the festival aims to support young, African digital makers. This year Dananayi Muwanigwa and Kombo Chapfika from Zimbabwe team up with Julia Hango from Namibia. We had a conversation with the artists to find out about their individual practices and their initial ideas for the Fak’ugesi Digital Africa Exhibition.

  • adidas EQT // cultural parallels between two urban landscapes

    In 1991 adidas turned to its history, providing “everything that is essential and nothing that is not” and so the EQT came to be. From its home in Berlin, the EQT symbolised the best of adidas, focusing on performance, comfort and protection to meet athletic needs. This shift in thinking has been carried over throughout the years at adidas where “premium materials, purposeful construction and the adidas trefoil” have made the EQT one of the iconic Originals.

    The EQT campaign aims to celebrate Detroit’s current cultural renaissance by drawing parallels between that city and Berlin. Taking cultural and city histories as a point of departure, there are significant similarities between Johannesburg and Detroit which can be identified through dance styles and the histories of life beyond divestment and dilapidated buildings. As adidas recognized in their development of the EQT, going back and highlighting the foundations can breathe life back into once forgotten spaces and cultural contributions, and present the possibility of a re-imagined future.

    Detroit Michigan is a city with a rich history, once functioning as the heartbeat of the U.S. auto industry and the birthplace of Motown records. Detroit, which was once the fourth largest city in America became the largest city ever to file for bankruptcy. The Motor City has closed down its factories, an underclass has formed and the city has been left behind. Many of Detroit’s buildings that once stood beautiful and proud have become urban forests. To get an insider’s perspective on the downfall of the motor city we did an interview with artist Ashley Cook who grew up in Harrison Township, Metro-Detroit.

    “The ‘white flight’ movement began well before I was born, in the early 70s. By the 1990s, Detroit was extremely desolate; there were few job opportunities. It was not until 2008, with the national economic crisis, that I started to see and feel the struggle. The situation is complex and has many facets including racism, xenophobia, class and economic privilege,” Ashley explained.

    For Ashley, what she has seen materialize in Detroit is an indication of the social and racial issues that need to be addressed and resolved before change is possible.“When a community of people are left by their governing force to fend for themselves, they eventually learn to survive and thrive with autonomy.”

    Thinking about Johannesburg’s inner city history of ‘white flight’ and decaying buildings, it echoes the sense of struggle, emptiness and a feeling of being left behind that Ashley highlights.

    Bertrams is one of the oldest areas in Johannesburg and today you can still find landmarks that indicate the wealth that was once in this suburb, these being fragmented and run down mansions.  Another inner city suburb in Johannesburg that has negative connotations connected to it such as being ‘unsafe’ and has become badly rundown is Hillbrow. When Hillbrow was conceptualized as a suburb the initial idea was for it to be a residential area, distinct from early Johannesburg’s industrial bustle, a site for health infrastructure in Johannesburg. Over the years it has been caught up in racial tensions, fear, poverty and chaos.

    While this may seem like doom and gloom, both of these cities have lives that have exist beyond their stories of forgotten spaces. This is signified by the dance styles that have emerged from these cities, namely Detroit Jit and Pantsula. These two styles quite fittingly have similar rhythmic movements and have an emphasis on footwork.

    Starting as a street style in the 70s by three brothers known as The Jitterbugs, Detroit Jit involves intense body movements, with sneakers allowing rapid foot and ankle movements. With the influence of hip hop the dance style has evolved, and jit battles have become part of this culture. Pantsula is a popular dance style in Johannesburg, which follows a similar emphasis on theatrical footwork. Born in the townships, pantsula carries a rhythmic speed which has been translated into a culture and fashion sense.

    The shoot aimed to highlight the life that exists in the city beyond the decay, and to acknowledge the cultural contributions of jit and pantsula, both of which make the foot movements the shining star of the dance.

    Pantsula and music duo Amadando were photographed outside beautiful abandoned buildings in the Johannesburg CBD. The duo moved to Johannesburg and brought with them moves from the Durban dance style, local. They have masterfully combined these with pantsula and 3 step, and have become well embedded in Johannesburg’s dance scene. They were also featured on Okmalumkoolkat’s single ‘Gqi!’ and are pairing their dance with the music they produce.

    Through the technique called Photogrammetry, and as a direct visual representation of the connections between Detroit and Johannesburg, images of Detroit’s abandoned buildings by photographer Tony Katai have been incorporated into the Johannesburg editorial to reflect the beauty, the decay and the possibilities both cities hold.

    Models: Sifiso Bright Dlamini & Andile Siyangaphi

    Post production: Lex Trickett

    Photography & Styling: Jamal Nxedlana

    Makeup: Orli Meiri

     

  • ColabNowNow // An exploration of collaboration and art making

    British Council Connect ZA has put together an experimental programme titled ColabNowNow as a way to bring together artists and storytellers from various disciplines to explore collaborative processes and art making. Participants were selected from South, East and West Africa as well as the UK to be part of the programme as a way to emphasize learning, networking and making. The participants will be guided by the curator of the programme, Kenyan digital artist and writer Jepchumba.

    The culmination of their work of the 10 day programme will be showcased as part of the Fak’ugesi Bloc Party on the 16th of September.

    The 15 participants have been broken down into 5 storytellers and 10 artists. Along with being encouraged to work with the artists, the storytellers will document and engage in the collaborative activities of the artists, telling the story to audiences in their respective countries. These include writers, photographers, videographers, and vloggers.

    The 10 artists all work in some way within the digital realm as visual artists, architects, programmers, sound artists, performers and animators.

    Jepchumba explains that the project “unleashes the best skilled, dangerous minds from Africa to re-imagine future forms of African storytelling by creating an interactive and immersive experience. 10 artists and 5 storytellers from West, East, Southern Africa and UK with multi-disciplinary talents will explore the creation of narratives in a post-screen, post digital world where non-linear is replaced by multi-linear, multi-modal, multi-layered and multi-access; content is scalable both fixed and mobile, across surfaces, across environments, across technologies for Africa!”

    The artists selection for ColabNowNow include from East Africa: Intersectional feminist and photographer Darlyne Komukama, Visual Artist John Magati and DJ, art organizer and writer Kampire Bahana. The UK artists include: Illustrator Olivia Twist, Cult Storyteller Christopher Lutterodt-Quarcoo and Storyteller Nikky Norton Shafau. The West African artists are: Visual Artist Papi, Visual Artist, designer and cultural activist Mukhtara Yusuf and Art Director Prince Kojo-Hilton. The Southern African selection includes: Illustrator Hugo Mendes, writer Lindokuhle Nkosi, Digital Artist Janus Fouche, Director and playwright Eliot Moleba, multidisciplinary artist Candida Merwe and lifelong art student Nyasha Madamombe.