Art lived to maturity
At a time when the era’s have become so different and focuses have shifted from having regular careers to following passions, an artist has shown some growth since his last mention and the improvement and exposure are seemingly a good direction Thami Mbenekazi is following.
Thami is known around art scenes in eMalahleni. He works closely with some other brands within eMalahleni. He himself is a brand. He started exhibiting his talent for art two years ago when he opened up shop in Ackerville. He collaborated with other artists within his community and they came up with Afrocan. The movement they had formed to broadcast the art in their communities’ generated hype and created a buzz between individuals and soon a trend had been adopted.
The Afrocan was a shop used as a work studio where the group exhibited their art abilities. Thami was already doing fine art at that time as well as print-making, working and learning from Artist Proof Studio in Newtown, Johannesburg. With those skills he managed to make himself a household name and coming onto the market with his photography.
This diverse artist has many talents within him. He is a photographer, fine artist, print-maker and a creative all in one. Thami was with Afrocan for a year before he temporarily left the group to pursue and further his own interests. He has made quite the impression and he took a moment to tell me all about how he is living his life the art way.
“I have grown as an artist and visionary. For me the growth is a never ending journey, it will be for as long as I breathe,” said Thami when asked about his growth as an artist from the previous year. Thami also added that he has achieved so much and was even awarded a Top 100 Artist award at The Thami Mnyele Art Awards 2013. Apart from that one award, Thami also received a Nikon camera as part of his victory in the Nikon ‘I see Images’ Workshop 2013. Amongst that Thami also received a first prize at the Fried Contemporary Autumn Art Fair 2014. ‘Oh, don’t forget about my article in House & Leisure,” he said with a sheepish laugh.
Outside of his shine-time as an artist Thami said he is currently working on setting up a studio which will specialise in screen-printing, as a means to produce artworks and generate a good business selling those artworks. In the long run he said that he hopes with all in him that the studio will be in constant engagements with the community, especially disadvantaged ones, to equip them with skills development in fine art and print-making.
Thami has, during his time at Artist Proof Studio, worked with a lot of artists including Bevan De Wet and Mongezi Ncaphayi just to name a couple. Also he was involved in the Joburg Art Fair 2013 as representative of the Artist Proof Studio. Thami has a solid plan in mind and hopes he can at least accomplish something that will make a difference whilst he is still at his peak.
He plans on having his solo body of work exhibited soon, he calls it a ‘work in process’ which he says he has been working on it for some time and he is quite excited about his presentation when the time comes for it to be revealed. When that time arrives he would like to his work of images exhibited at the Turbine Hall in Newtown and with the FNB Art Fair.
“I have quite a lot going on you see, I cant help but just do art be it and by all means live it. Photography, printing and ink; well they all keep me going,” said Thami with a little seriousness when he proclaimed his love to the arts.
Besides his own little projects and plans for him and his community, he hopes that the direction of the arts in campus goes the right direction. “I heard about an arts campus coming soon somewhere in South Africa,” he whispers, and well, the melody in the grass tells no lies.
