| |
|
|
|
mission statement
Art is more than a visual gateway but a place in itself. To produce something that propels not only myself but others into a world where the unseen is seen and celebrated, and where we can be seen and celebrated is reason enough to paint. Art is a means of gaining personal, emotional and political emancipation, even while still imprisoned.
Who knows what hope lies ahead? Only those who choose to have the bravery to hope.
-Taf
|
17 July 2010
"Music, the greatest good that mortals know and all of heaven we have hear below. " - Addison
Just over two weeks later and the third painting of Facing a Century is complete and in the hands of its owner – Just Jinjer's Ard Matthews. And as predicted, I did like this one madly. Classic grisaille paintings in a paynes grey monochrome are a personal favourite of mine and this was the perfect way for me to reflect the peaceful simplicity and positive emotion behind the man that is Ard Matthews.
From the days of listening to "Like you Madly" and "Sugar Man" on a mixed tape in a bedroom in the middle of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe , reluctantly staring at geography homework and wondering what, if any future lay ahead; to a Cape winter's evening by the beachfront more than a decade later still wondering what, if any future lies ahead but this time with Ard sitting next to me, one can only have hope and be encouraged that all these little steps that we take add up, every brushstroke adds to a bigger picture.
Ard Matthews, The Ard Matthews Portrait, Taf [Tafadzwa Mukwashi]
"Peace, Love, more Tolerance" are more than just lyrics - that really is what Ard is about. He is the Global Ambassador for South Africa's MyLife Foundation which in layman's terms means he cares a LOT about the youth and children on the streets of South Africa and is proactively doing what he can to get them off the streets. MyLife bases its holistic healing programmes on the African concept of UBUNTU – it takes a village to raise a child. He sees these children, even though their problems are colossal and seem impossible to solve (poverty, abuse, drug addiction…) and he wants them to be seen and loved.
I have been accused so many times, by a countless number of people of being a naïve idealist for wanting and trying to make this world a better place. Seeing a person like Ard who will gladly auction away his belongings for MyLife, who creates music that uplifts, who gives hugs that uplift and who has the most amazing dreadlocks ever (I have touched them) makes me think that was more of a compliment than anything else. Ard has it wrong – the honour was mine to paint him.
About 90 more people and their moments to go for my century to be complete. (If you think one of them should be you, please email info@sketchbooktrails.com).
-Taf
|
|
01 July 2010
"Those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music." - NIETZSCHE
It feels wonderful to be painting again. When I removed the dust off my easel, and took the brushes and paints out of their boxes, I knew that my path had become confused, muddy and had reached an impasse. It was time to strike out in any direction. It didn't matter if I failed, again. The key was just to move, and to keep moving.
And a new trail presents itself, and it is Facing a Century. Facing a Century is a collection of portraits I have started and in honour of new beginnings, it is out with the old pursuit of photo-realism (although I will always love my earlier works). I am trying out different things because that is the great thing about being an artist, you can do what you want. I have been thinking a lot about life in the last two years, and defining moments in it. The moments when I have really felt like Taf and not like I was just getting on with life. And then I thought it would be great to capture some of those moments for 100 people.
So Facing a Century is not a collection of posed portraits of the style favoured by our favourite dictators through history. It is about moments. And the individuals in the paintings know what those moments mean to them.
So I have set up a grid of 100 squares to be filled by 100 paintings here. The first of these squares has been filled by Dominic Peters and David Poole of Goldfish. I have discovered electric orange thanks to the Fishies. I had been listening to Goldfish long before I had even thought of painting them or had met them. They are exceptional musicians (between the two of them they can play the double bass, sax, keyboard and they do their own production and engineering) and their music makes me happy. Simple as that. I dance around to their music when I'm alone and even when I am not, I end up dancing like no one can see me anyway. To understand what Nietzsche meant when he said, "Those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music", you really just have to listen to Goldfish. It's all linked isn't it – music, art, dancing, life, electric orange, fish.
David Poole, The Goldfish Portrait, Dominic Peters
The second portrait is of Seth Rotherham of 2oceansvibe. He honestly has a vibe. (I'm not trying to sell anything here, everyone knows artists can't sell anything even if they tried). But the cool thing is he spreads that vibe around and makes people around him feel good too. A drink with Seth at the Cape Royale will make you remember to look at the sunset every evening. I follow 2oceansvibe and I am really looking forward to the launch of a daily 2oceansvibe radio soon. Seth supports musicians and other artists and photographers. Plus his blog is pretty funny but I'll let you discover that for yourselves.
The next portrait I am working on is...I don't know, I just think I'm going to like it madly.
About 90 more people and their moments to go for my century to be complete. (If you think one of them should be you, please email info@sketchbooktrails.com).
-Taf
|
|
What makes something aesthetic or not is always a matter of subjectivity, what the viewer sees, and what the viewer will not see.
It is easy to see things that do not require much thought and do not draw on our consciences. To see things that go against this brings up a need to do something.
We are incapable of reaching a point of perfection, there would be no destination after this point but a regression. There is no saving the whole world but we can do the very best we can at each given point in time. Sketchbooktrails is part of my efforts to celebrate the people and places on the trail, and to give back to them for providing me with images that left a trail in mind, whether benign and gladdening, or disturbing and saddening.
Young women do have the capabilities to pioneer projects and can make a difference in their communities. The problem of always waiting till one has enough before one can embark on any community based projects is that that time may never come. Sketchbooktrails believes in doing everything you believe you can do now for, though clichéd, it is true, ‘Tomorrow never comes’.
-Taf
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
home
