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Qhama Maswana: Painting the African Heritage and Cultures

For some people art is a hobby but 25 year-old Fine Art graduate Qhama Maswana from King Williams Town, Eastern Cape, in South Africa has a much more serious approach to it. Maswana started painting in 2005, after winning a couple of art competitions and decided that he was going to be a great artist. He speaks to TIA about his wok.

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While for some art is a hobby, 25 year old Fine Art graduate Qhama Maswana from King Williams Town, Eastern Cape, in South Africa has a much more serious approach to it. Maswana started painting in 2005, after winning a couple of Art competitions and decided on the spot that he was going to be an extra ordinary artist. He speaks to TIA about his work.

Maswana studied at Forbes Grant where he completed his higher certificate and says this is where he got inspiration, passion and aspirations to become an artist.  In 2010 he went on to pursue a two year certificate in fine arts at Lovedale College and then furthered his studies at the University of Fort Hare.

“That is where I found my vocal, conceptual and visual language,” Maswana says.

 

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“I decided on the spot that I was going to be an extra ordinary artist. What motivated me are challenges related to my field of choice which made me more curious in learning more about art. As we speak I run my painting and drawing studio from home. I am one curious artist who’s always eager to learn and know more about the lifestyle of others in different environments.”

He says his work is influenced by African, heritage and culture that tend to tell a folk story about the beauty of Africa and address its challenges and heritage, it has a modern approach which is meant to take the viewer through the daily life of Africans.

“My work is slightly different from other artists as it has a cultural feel, inspired by my background of being raised in rural areas by both parents who respected their culture and customs.”

He lives in a family of six, his parents, two sisters and a nephew.

His paintings are a reflection of African heritage and culture that tend to tell a folk story about the beauty of Africa, they depicts the spirituality of Africans, and portray them in a divine light. His art can be inspired by anything, it can be an interaction with an elderly person.

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Capturing a painting for him is by determined by what art medium and material are best for each project and whenever he needs to capture colour and form. He says he uses oil paints. If it’s an urgent projects he says he uses fast drying acrylic paints. Sometimes multi media are needed to complete a project to capture a subject. Mswana currently showcases his work on Facebook and Instagram.

The youth and people whose interest in art is still growing are his  priority. The artists says he has a creative approach of teaching and provoking questions about what influenced him while creating a piece of art. Maswana says it is important to live life to the fullest and enjoy every moment in order to paint it accurately as you experience it.

“I paint only when I’m inspired and I work hard at being inspired every day, if something touched my soul enough for me to paint it, the chances are there is someone out there who may feel the same. Because I think as an artist it is my job to inspire people.”

 

 

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