Her website is outrageous and oh-so-funky, a lot like the Afrikaans girl who created it. Birch was born in Pretoria and grew up in tropical Tzaneen, but she now calls Jozi home.
“My childhood was colourful and made me adaptable because we moved often. I’ve always been super inquisitive and very talkative.”
She may be an artist, but she actually graduated in fashion at the Elizabeth Galloway Academy of Fashion in Stellenbosch, which may be why colour and design play such a vital role in her work. Birch said her recent hat collection was inspired by Koko the Gorilla, who is famous because she can use American sign language and understand English.
Her favourite medium to work with when it comes to art, however, is wheat paste.
The project she took part in most recently was the Colour Intervention Project in Braamfontein, which tied in with the Colour Run that took place at Emmarentia Dam in September.
https://citybuzz.co.za/34523/macaws-fly-free-in-braam/
“I love the medium because it deteriorates with the building and the image can be as big as you want it to be. It’s also natural and not toxic to the environment.”
instagram.com/p/7r4zsmHV08/?taken-by=citybuzzjhb
She was more than happy to take part in the project, as she believes that street art has the ability to “uplift, distract and revitalise an area. Street art provokes thoughts, political views and creativity. It can be a political, vocal space, a place that makes people think about their own views or it can just be aesthetically pleasant and cool.”
An example of the street art that can bee seen around the city.
instagram.com/p/8LZ88knV3o/?taken-by=citybuzzjhb
Her advice for the creative types hiding in Johannesburg is simple, “Don’t be afraid to express your views, to spread a message and play with what you do as an artist.” She also said that if it is a negative message, you should make it clever and do your research. “Stop comparing yourself with others and find new ways to present things in a fresh way!”
Details: www.therealcrystalbirch.com
Want to see more of the street art that Jozi has to offer? Follow City Buzz on Instagram.
