This and other ranges are available in my online shop on Etsy
African Art in its truest form is known for being expressive. It is rife with symbolism and purpose. Ideas are/were not just for ideas sake but reflected a responsibility, a desire, a need to be beyond common experience. A need for the spiritual. For this reason we find artistic references in rituals, costume, music, dance, everyday products and masks. They originate form a need to make create objects that spiritually connect us.
Huru is an idea that is developed today _ that is to say – a modern idea. An idea that resonates with everyone. To be modern is to be a solo agent. Coming from or just emerging from a community led existence. The spiritual backdrop that is the African’s state of being. We are confronted with the breakdown of that state and have to contend with what we have and where we are today. Many times I have head people in the diaspora claim that their bonds with their native countries is even stronger when one is overseas. Artists have portrayed conflict this this in many ways and huru is my portrayal.
Huru explores the idea of freedom. The physical manifestation as evidenced in barriers, shackles, ownership – the list is endless. The state that I had to embody to become free of the desire to conform into the expectations of the market and like a true artist, to bring into my ideas what I really wanted to do without fear of failure.
Huru makes bold statements in its original size. I must take you further back – The idea of Huru was there long before it was realised. Being a designer, entrepreneur and product developer and based on my experience as a business development trainer, I was rigorously practicing what I taught everyday. I looked at the market and what sold the most. I observed consumers and what they wore. the future did not look great for huru. yet I now live in a country that is pioneering in very many aspect of design – its just that the market is very conservative, generally. After chat with my jewellery design tutor _ (Thanks Mel), I was able to tear through the fear and barriers and be me. Draw, design and make what inspires me and out there I will find people who appreciate my work. I want to make art and objects that have a voice about who I am and where i come from.
This is countered by the simple lines and geometric ‘Huru’ is the Swahili word for freedom, which is what this necklet is about. Allowing one to move and to try to rearrange the pieces and sometimes even breaking through them.
Beauty in Escape
This and other ranges are available in my online shop on Etsy
