"The Sovereign"-solo exhibition by Nokwanda Themba
Alliance Francaise du Cap, Cape Town, South Africa
6 February-7 February 2022
Artist in Residence Japan Funding
Crowd funding campaign to raise funds and travel sponsorship for an Artist in Residence programme in Japan
Brief:
Nokwanda is seeking funding and travel sponsorship for a one month Artist in Residence programme in Japan this August. This residence stay provides the artist an opportunity to live and create work in a new environment, allowing for newfound inspiration and growth, as well as the opportunity to engage with the local community and artists, creating a global network of culture. |
Who are you?
Nokwanda Themba is a 24 year old (b.1994) Zambian-South African self -taught Freelance Illustrator/ Visual Artist and Physiology Graduate based in Johannesburg, South Africa. Her work focuses on the Visual Anthropology of beauty, serving as social advocacy for movements such as womanism and feminism. Her work is concerned with the social and cultural identity and representation of Women of Color from different global ethnicities. Her work has been described as "whimsical, vibrant and imaginative illustrations creating nuanced reflections of the black female form, embracing all aspects of femininity — both her own, and that of her subjects"-Design Indaba. She describes her work as a social experiment, in which she explores the complexities and individual differences in the faces she meets. Some might consider her work far removed from her background in medicine and science. Nokwanda holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Physiology of which she obtained at the University of Pretoria. Carving a multi-career while pursuing her studies, she has exhibited her work in group exhibitions and worked with galleries such as Trent Gallery in the 'Print Art Exhibition-2018. In 2015, she was chosen to be a part of ULTRACONTEMPORARY EMERGENCYART #AFRICA hosted by Copenhagen Ultra-Contemporary Biennale (CUB) at The Museum of African Design where she worked alongside artists from Denmark and Berlin in a group exhibition. Her work has been featured twice in Napizum Magazine based in the United States as well as POVO Journal's 10th Anniversary Edition(Zimbabwe). In 2017 she was Voted as the Top 16 Emerging Creative Leaders to look out for and has been invited as a guest speaker at the Young African Creatives Conference panel discussion hosted by Creative Nestling to discuss the future of the creative industry. She has over the years appeared in many online features celebrating her self taught talent such as Design Indaba, SA Creative Network, Elle Magazine SA, Between 10 and 5, Accra dot alt and Afriquette.' She has collaborated with artists across the United States, Ghana and Japan and her work continues to catch the eye of many studios, organizations and galleries across the world. She can be found in the 'Women who draw' worldwide open directory for female illustrators. What are you seeking funding for? Nokwanda is seeking funding for an Artist in Residence programme to take place in Japan in August 2019 as it is a self funded programme whereby the artist require third-party funding from organizations, art councils or individuals. She has been accepted into two residencies at Arts Itoya in Takeo and Sapporo Tenjinyama Studios in Hokkaido, of which she will attend one programme for her one-month residency. How do Art Residencies work? Artist in residence programmes provide artists an opportunity to live and create work in a new environment, allowing for newfound inspiration and growth, as well as the opportunity to engage with the local community and artists, creating a stronger and broader global network of arts and culture. This will allow them the time to reflect, research, or produce work. During a residency, artists can explore new locations, different cultures, and experiment with different materials. Local artists, as well as international artists from a wide range of creative backgrounds, can make use of this unique space and build a global network. This provides a forum for local engagement as well as an open dialogue between the artists and the community. When do you need to reach your target? The targeted amount is to be reached by August 1st, 2019 What will the funds cover? The funds will cover:
What is the process of your project? My work is centered around being a social experiment. This means that connecting with the people of the community plays a big role. The process of my project will include conducting research and keeping a daily inventory journal of my experiences and people I have met, photographs in a photo journal, as well as gaining ancient insights from members of the community about the culture and social experiences of women in the community. With my findings, I intend to create individual portraiture works as well as a large scale mural work of all the souls I have met. The works will be a part of my ongoing project titled “The Sovereign” -a solo exhibition to be held at the end of the residency stay. Examples of my intended outcome from previous works of artists Araki Koman and Rama Duwaji, respectively: |
What inspired this project?
The aim of this one-month residency stay is to begin exploring and researching the different cultures and societies of the world, specifically, Japan. I have always had a keen interest in Japan. The people, the language, the culture, the natural scenery, the lifestyle, the food and the architecture. There is a strength yet peacefulness in their culture I seek to understand, explore and represent through drawings.
Furthermore, it is important to create a cultural relationship and bridge the gap between our two different cultures, Africans and Japanese could possibly be so much alike, and in understanding each other we can create more unity and partnership. More so, creating global womanhood and connection. There is never enough chances where we can unite humans beyond ethnicity and origin, we need to see more cultural connections between Japan and other cultures of the world.
What positive impact will this residency stay have on you?
This residence stay in Japan will offer me community, support and collaboration with other artists in the city. Through living outside of my comfort zone, challenging my own beliefs, experiencing a completely different culture, new surroundings and creating new experiences, this will impact and effect my work, allowing me the time to do cultural research and create new work. The cultural experiences I gain will be incorporated into my work as I create portraits of the different people I meet.
I have throughout my career created small pieces of work, due to time and financial constraints, I have never had the opportunity to fully explore my artistry and be who I am in a sense. I studied science in University, and have only created during my spare time, not given the opportunity to be liberated and fully immerse myself in my craft. My stay at the residency will allow me time and resources to possibly create larger scales of work, as well as the opportunity to explore different mediums either than compressed charcoal, coffee and tempera powder- which I have been using over the years beginning creating.
As an emerging artist, I not only intend to grow in means of expression but I seek intellectual and spiritual growth, liberation, healing, maturity, and professionalism. I want to be given the opportunity I have always needed, to develop myself wholly and fully immerse myself into my craft and create multiple pieces of work. Therefore, this residence stay will become a catalyst for progress and new insights into my creative process as an artist.
The expected outcome of the residency programme will be to create portraiture works that will serve as Social and Cultural representations of Women of Color, specifically the women in Japan, and their individual narratives. These portraits will create a dialog and cultural exchange between Japan and Africa, of which will span beyond the residency stay and exhibition into the future. It is important to create cultural connections between Japan and other cultures, as there are never enough chances where we can unite humans beyond ethnicity and origin.
More about Nokwanda Themba's work (click image for link):
The aim of this one-month residency stay is to begin exploring and researching the different cultures and societies of the world, specifically, Japan. I have always had a keen interest in Japan. The people, the language, the culture, the natural scenery, the lifestyle, the food and the architecture. There is a strength yet peacefulness in their culture I seek to understand, explore and represent through drawings.
Furthermore, it is important to create a cultural relationship and bridge the gap between our two different cultures, Africans and Japanese could possibly be so much alike, and in understanding each other we can create more unity and partnership. More so, creating global womanhood and connection. There is never enough chances where we can unite humans beyond ethnicity and origin, we need to see more cultural connections between Japan and other cultures of the world.
What positive impact will this residency stay have on you?
This residence stay in Japan will offer me community, support and collaboration with other artists in the city. Through living outside of my comfort zone, challenging my own beliefs, experiencing a completely different culture, new surroundings and creating new experiences, this will impact and effect my work, allowing me the time to do cultural research and create new work. The cultural experiences I gain will be incorporated into my work as I create portraits of the different people I meet.
I have throughout my career created small pieces of work, due to time and financial constraints, I have never had the opportunity to fully explore my artistry and be who I am in a sense. I studied science in University, and have only created during my spare time, not given the opportunity to be liberated and fully immerse myself in my craft. My stay at the residency will allow me time and resources to possibly create larger scales of work, as well as the opportunity to explore different mediums either than compressed charcoal, coffee and tempera powder- which I have been using over the years beginning creating.
As an emerging artist, I not only intend to grow in means of expression but I seek intellectual and spiritual growth, liberation, healing, maturity, and professionalism. I want to be given the opportunity I have always needed, to develop myself wholly and fully immerse myself into my craft and create multiple pieces of work. Therefore, this residence stay will become a catalyst for progress and new insights into my creative process as an artist.
The expected outcome of the residency programme will be to create portraiture works that will serve as Social and Cultural representations of Women of Color, specifically the women in Japan, and their individual narratives. These portraits will create a dialog and cultural exchange between Japan and Africa, of which will span beyond the residency stay and exhibition into the future. It is important to create cultural connections between Japan and other cultures, as there are never enough chances where we can unite humans beyond ethnicity and origin.
More about Nokwanda Themba's work (click image for link):
Would you like to fund
to my project?
Great :) Simply follow the link to Back-a-buddy Crowdfunding platform or alternatively, go straight to Paypal:
Thank you message:
I would like to say a special thank you to each and everyone who has donated, shared this link on social media, spread the word and possibly connected me to sponsors.
Thank you so much for your contribution towards my dream project!
Your assistance and contribution in any way possible is greatly appreciated and received with gratitude.
If you have any questions or wish to contact me, or if you have ideas of where I could possibly receive funding for the residency programme, please do not hesitate to inform me.
I hope to connect with you on social media as I share my residency experience in Japan!
With Love,
Nokwanda
Contact details:
email: [email protected]
phone: +27814489164
References:
Sindiso Nyoni - [email protected]
Chiami Sikene, Tenjinyamas- [email protected]
Yukina Matsumoto, Arts Itoya- [email protected]
Social Media:
Instagram: @nylamexico
Twitter: @voguezambia
Website: nylamexico.weebly.com