Creative duo creates superlative art experience
Ribane, Mokoena seek to close gaps in art space
The sublime scenes at the Nirox Sculpture Park make for remarkable memories. It was here where tastemakers in art, fashion and food met to create an unforgettable feast for the senses.
Multi-disciplinary artist Tebogo Ribane as well as fashion and décor designer Shelley Mokoena joined forces with Bombay Sapphire to create the Wasomi experience.
Bringing a diverse set of black and other women of colour together, the esteemed pair curated a one-of-a-kind immersive art experiences. This included visual artist Tzung-Hui Lauren Lee as well as sculptor Fathema Bemath.
After a series of conversations, the pair birthed the experience after looking for ways to fill gaps in the art space.
“Creating costume was something that really excited me because I always saw dancers wear tights and crop tops and though they were not stretching the story. So costume made me more curious, looking at [them and thinking], can I make this humongous garment and dance in it?” said Ribane.
Fashion took centre-stage with a number of clothing items and fabrics displayed throughout the outdoor venue. This was also accompanied by breezy fashion show scored by a live soulful performance from local muso Sio.
This was culminated by the main Wasomi installation that featured art pieces that capture the different artists present at the exhibition.
“The main focus was the Wasomi-curated installation of everyone’s best work of recent.
We just created it into a whole sum of what every artist is capable of in their most artistic forms of expression.
“From there, people gravitate towards what their interests are in… and that’s what Wasomi was about, bringing different mediums and experiences into one and curating into one installation so you can have a look and feel of different mediums into one.”
While they embrace the beauty of interacting with art pieces physically, the duo is considering also going digital.
Mokoena encourages artists, especially those who are black and of colour, to be cognisant of how their art can inspire so many people as well as helping each other make better changes in society.
For Ribane, it’s vital to show self-confidence and to find ways to express the hurdles one might face and even finding ways to express it. “It’s our responsibility to be loud about it and to carry each other through it,” she says.