Love, dedication and passion are what is needed when you do art. These are the words of a young upcoming artist Simthembile Mxokozeli.
The Covid informal settlement resident makes ends meet through art.
Mxokozeli (46) started doing art in 2001 but only got serious in 2016 after struggling to find a job for a long time.
The self-trained artist uses plain zinc, plastic bottles, and wires to create whatever is in his mind.
“I never received formal training about what I’m doing. It’s just a gift from God. Sometimes I envision some of the things that I create. My first artwork was a rondavel made of plain zinc and wires,” said Mxokozeli, adding that now he even create a shopping mall. He described his gift as something “rare”.
The soft-spoken artist expressed his gratitude to his friends and neighbours for pushing him.
“When I arrived here (Covid) in 2019, from Nkanini informal settlement in Harare, I came with a lot of material that I’ve worked on while I was at Nkanini. My neighbours in Nkanini were motivating me a lot. Even here, some are motivating and admiring my work. But I don’t do a lot of stuff here because I’m struggling to get the material,” he said, adding that all the material that he uses most of the time collects around the community.
Mxokozeli stated that he doesn’t have a marketplace where he shows his artwork. He stressed that most of his stuff sells in the community.
“No one knows about my work, only a few people around me in the area. Other people see my stuff when they are passing by my shack and start to enquire about them. Some of the things I’ve done I just gave my cousin or their children when there is no one to buy them because I don’t have sufficient space to keep them. I wish I could have a stall where I can put my work and sell it,” he stated, adding that the prices depend on the size of what he asked to do.
Mxokozeli stated that a rondavel takes two days while a mall takes two to three weeks.
He proclaimed that art is an investment on its own. He said it needs people who know its value.
“I’m not educated, but even well-educated people don’t understand art. It is a complex thing. Many artists use art to express themselves. As artists, we are different. Other artists are using paint while others pen and paper to express themselves. It is not a person who chooses what to use, but it is that thing that you are using that chooses you.
“Who would choose paint if we had a choice to choose? Who would want to be dirty with paint?” asked Mxokozeli.
He said even if a person could come with his or her own house plan and ask him to do it, he would do it.
He declared that art needs a bit of flair and creativity. He urged anyone who can assist him to develop his skill is welcome.
- Anyone who wants help from Simthembile Mxokozeli can contact him at 069 401 3552.
