COMMUNITY
The local creatives to support a er the national lockdown
The homegrown creatives whose work to continue supporting once the Covid-19 lockdown has ended
MASH. T DESIGN STUDIO
WHO Thabisa Mjo WHAT Furniture and lighting design that has carved a distinctly African niche in the global marketplace. For Thabisa, design is a form of storytelling that empowers others WHY ‘The reason I work with craftspeople is that we must document our heritage and share the arts and the innovation that African people have always possessed,’ says Thabisa, whose studio collaborates with local artisans to produce its pieces. mashtdesignstudio.co.za
AFRI MODERN
WHO Sifiso Shange
WHAT Inspired by his Zulu heritage, Sifiso’s range of furniture pieces has a distinctly Afromodernist edge with international design appeal WHY A‘ fri Modern prides itself in the preservation of authentic African stories, specifically stories of my culture,’ says Sifiso. ‘I want to make sure I preserve them for the future.’ @afrimodern
MUNGO
WHO Stuart Holding WHAT Colour and pattern collide in Mungo’s various textile ranges, including towels, linen, blankets and apparel WHY ‘We are humanists not industrialists,’ is as much an ethos as it is a daily practice at Mungo’s mill, just outside of Plettenberg Bay, where the collections are produced on traditional looms. All pieces are made by hand using natural fibres, making them sustainable in every form. mungo.co.za
FARAH HERNANDEZ CERAMICS
WHO Farah Hernandez WHAT Highly decorative porcelain and ceramic objects
WHY After moving to South Africa from Spain in 2004, Farah began to explore the fundamentals of pottery. This evolved into a fascination with porcelain, as well as the establishment of her studio seven years later. Today, her work is informed by illustration, which has helped Farah carve a niche in the local ceramics market. farahhernandez.co.za
CARA SAVEN WALL DESIGN
WHO Cara Saven
WHAT Wall art, including wallpaper, vinyl, framed prints and canvases for residential and commercial spaces
WHY Since the studio’s inception in 2006, Cara Saven and her team have created many distinct wall designs, offering a full service from custom artwork and printing to installation. carasaven.com
MONGEZI NCAPHAYI
WHO Mongezi Ncaphayi WHAT Large artworks with a distinctly graphic quality WHY In 2019, Mongezi won the Africa First Art Prize, which led to a solo exhibition at the Investec Cape Town Art Fair, as well as the Stellenbosch Triennale. His art stands out from his peers’ for his ability to capture and convey deeply abstract qualities. smacgallery.com
FRANCES V.H MOHAIR RUGS
WHO Frances van Hasselt WHAT Using Angora wool from its farm in the Karoo, all Frances
V.H Mohair Rugs are handwoven in the Eastern
Cape, empowering local communities through artisanal craft
WHY ‘We are committed to preserving and developing the skills of traditional textile workers,’ says Frances. francesvh.com