Wet paint spreads the message – social distance needn’t be anti-social

The Parys-based multidisciplinary artist, Baba Tjeko, is making significant strides in the commercial art world.
Tjeko currently features in a TV advert, following his collaboration with the Belgian premium alcohol brand Stella Artois.
Together with fellow artist Lauren Colin Mitchell, Baba teamed up with Stella Artois to create “Wet Paint”, an art installation-cum-social experiment that aims to prove that social distancing needn’t be anti-social. The initial campaign had eight locally-made benches placed in easy-to-spot locations around Gauteng, including Menlyn on Main in Pretoria, Mall of Africa Waterfall Park in Midrand and the Sandton Gautrain forecourt. In the middle of each bench is a brightly-painted mural, created by either Baba Tjeko or Curious Lauren, as well as a hand-written “wet paint” sign that hovers above – even long after the paint has dried. Through this mischievous placement of “wet paint” signs, people are encouraged to sit along-side, yet apart from each other – bringing to life the message of social distancing that is often easily forgotten. The campaign forms part of the ongoing fight against the worldwide pandemic (Covid-19) that has claimed many lives, locally and abroad.
Baba is happy to use his art to highlight important social issues and bring aware-ness to South Africans. “It is a privilege for me to work on these creative campaigns, for awareness, but also to encou- rage young artists in Tumahole and Parys to know that their talent is valid, he says.
Wet Paint is one of the big campaigns that Baba has worked on this year, along-side a collaboration with Nespresso, an internationally renowned coffee brand. Follow Baba Tjeko on Instagram and Facebook for more of his work and amazing collaborations.