The other space of my documentaries is to reflect on self – and the concepts of self in society, Its progression, or lack thereof. The other aspect is to celebrate, celebrate one’s existence in a space where one cannot ‘BE’ in a space where the natural expectation of co-existing is limited, sanctioned, bared and or prohibited. Therefore, the process of celebrating, becomes a journey in which one may lead to a point of healing.
In your opinion, does an artist have to suffer in order to create?
An artist doesn’t have to suffer to create. However circumstances are not the same, others will produce artworks to respond to their immediate issues. That could be of political nature in which art is used as a vessel to convey a message to many for solidarity. On the other hand suffering is for everybody. Everybody suffers. Even the rich suffer, because we’ve all got some agonising discomforts – and wounds that we carry with us on our daily basis. They might not necessarily be from a space of deprivation. It might be a personal space. So, suffering is definitely not reserved only for artists. But in most cases, suffering is the confrontation that forces one to reflect; and in so doing, one is then transported or triggered to a place where they can find or create new ways, new thoughts, new feelings, new experiences, which then may translate itself into the body of work that one may produce. But essentially, suffering becomes a stimulus for most cases. And again, suffering might not be personal, but it might be something that just a person observes from another lens or observing someone suffering and it becomes a stimulus to get them to think. And I think as artists, we are fortunate that we have a medium in which we can translate our experiences and thoughts and make them practical.
Make them visual and make them speak volumes. Aesthetically. I think this is the case with everybody in the world. The person who creates software, could be coming from a space where they suffered because that software was not there, and then they create something that could add value to someone else’s life. The person who might write a song might be speaking from a space where they are heartbroken and this song becomes an outlet for them. So for most of the artists it then yes, say suffering becomes a stimulus in which it lays the basis or the foundation for us to a release. And in doing so, we released a test of ourselves, because quite often people identify with stimulus just as much as I’ve been stimulated. I can stimulate somebody else with my experience thus enabling or igniting the process of reflection. Through my experience reflect.
What is next for you?
The next is a retrospective show at MEP, Paris, opening on 1st Feb. 2023. In 2024 will return to Tate Modern, London for a retrospective because the 2020/21 retro was closed to Covid lockdown. Then my biggest dream is to have my own Museum which will focus on Women’s Arts & Crafts in South Africa.
