1. 132| AUGUST 2015 WWW.TRUELOVE.CO.ZA
TL | profile
I was introduced to art when I
helped organise the Soweto Arts
Residency in 2012. After that, I began
receiving work from artists fresh out
of varsity to submit to galleries. But
galleries were looking for work by
well-known artists. I then realised
that there was a gap in the industry
for emerging artists to showcase their
material. That’s how Stop Sign Art
Gallerycameaboutin2013.
I didn’t want my gallery to look
like any other, which is why I chose a
shipping container. To me, art is raw
and represents reality. When deciding
on a space, I remembered how shipping
containers were big once upon a time
in the townships and were used as
telephone booths. That’s how I ended up
workinginthisplace.
The shipping container is my
happy place. I am here all the time. Art
is supposed to make you feel something
and inspire you, and the art that
surroundsmeeverydaydoesjustthat.
IMAGESTsholoMothibi
I am free spirited. If I feel like having
purplehair,Idyeit.IfIwakeupandthink
that combing my hair is oppression, I
will stop combing it. I go wherever the
windblows.
Frames remind me of great moments
in my life. I am obsessed with framing
things. I have framed a jersey, a half-
baked and shrunken Chuck Taylor shoe
and an old cellphone without a camera. I
droppeditinwater,butIfailedtobringit
back to life using a microwave. All these
itemshavestories.
My favourite piece of art is a portrait
of myself by David Tshabalala. Another
artist whose work I love is Ayanda
Mabulu. I’m amazed by the way he
thinks. He is not willing to compromise
anythingforanyonewhenitcomestohis
art and I like that. I strongly believe you
can’ttellanartistwhattodo;artistsneed
to represent their reality and what they
feel, and it would be unfair to tell them
howtodepictthat.
For me, art is important. Everything
that surrounds us is art – the earth,
the moon and everything in between.
I call myself an art piece because I
can be framed through photography
orpainting.
I believe we are all on a spiritual
journey of finding people who will add
to the richness of our lives. It’s part of
my journey to work with artists.
My dream is to see Stop Sign Art
Gallery go international. I would like
to collaborate with curators and artists
from across the world, and have the
opportunitytotakemyartiststoEurope
or the US. I think art is knowledge and
we need to educate the world.
Stop Sign Art Gallery is at 27Boxes in
Melville, Joburg. Find them on Facebook
or email: zamabridget@gmail.com
BY PERCY MATSHOBA
Flamboyant ZAMA PHAKATHI, 24, owns
a buzzing art gallery inside a shipping container.
She tells us more about her passion.
ARTINA
CONTAINER