Artist with big ambition
JESSICA Mashiane (24) is a local artist who says she wants to become an international brand and is determined not to allow anything to stand in her way.
LIMPOPO – JESSICA Mashiane (24) is a local artist who says she wants to become an international brand and is determined not to allow anything to stand in her way.
She says although the industry is tough her mission is to educate people about her profession and the significance of art so that they can support her.
Mashiane specialises in printmaking, painting, photography and drawing. She says she fell in love with drawing at the age of eight years when she was introduced to crayons. “When I finished high school, I went to study fine arts at Tshwane University of Technology and have since graduated,” she says.
“Having some of my artworks exhibited at art galleries around the country including Bloemfontein, Johannesburg, Pretoria and Polokwane was a dream come true. It is overwhelming to think that hundreds of people enter those galleries and see my work.”
She believes her work tells stories that others can relate to. Being a finalist in the Absa L’Atelier art competition has been the highlight of her career so far. The Absa L’Atelier art competition is South Africa’s most prestigious art competition and is held annually. Mashiane explains her work: “My work conveys messages concerning social issues that people face daily. My recent photography is about women. I want to appreciate their bodies because of their ability to give birth.
She would like people to pay more attention to art so that sales can be increased. She admits it is not easy to attract potential buyers. “I would like to open a studio where I can display my work.”
