Street artists beautify the area as they create, ply their trade
George Tapera Mpofu a confident wire and bead artist is confident he is one of the best street artists in Durban and spoke to Berea Mail about his exciting pieces.
A ZIMBABWEAN artist who has made Durban home has impacted the Musgrave community with his bright and beautiful beaded creations
George Tapera Mpofu is confident he, together with his business partner, Cyprian Nyazenga, are the best street artists in Durban. Speaking to Berea Mail while busy creating one of his beaded birds, he said he had been making wire and bead animals for a decade. “I came to Durban in 2004 and left my home in Zimbabwe for greener pastures in South Africa. It has been a roller coaster ride in South Africa and we have moved around a lot. We are now independent artists and based on Musgrave Road after previously working with a group on Bulwer Road,” he explained.
Mpofu said the duo were friends and business partners who wanted to “create different designs.” “We started out making key rings, flowers and small insects. Today we have a multi-coloured guinea fowls, open mouthed elephants and other animals in 3D designs which are unique. We even make life sized Big Five animals,’ he proudly said.
The duo’s shocking pink flamingos and bright orange ‘whoopie” birds are their biggest sellers with the Durban community and Mpofu dreams of one day being able to get their own shop or studio.
Mpofu studied art at the Politechnics School of Art in Zimbabwe and uses his skills to constantly improve on current designs and colour trends. “I always wanted to be an artist, probably ever since I was in grade two. I remember drawing or making small wire cars as a child. I think I was born a creative and didn’t mind not having real cars because I always made my own and they were fun,” he said.
