Just like that, on Friday I ran into a Capetonian living in Turin and remembered Cape Town, the stunning African city located at the very end (or beginning) of the continent.
While we lived in South Africa, I went to the port city twice and left wishing to come back again. There is so much to do and see: The history, the oceans, the multiculturalism, the wine, the food, the art… the list can keep going on.
On the other hand, the city holds a surprising art scene. If you like contemporary art, Cape Town is definitely your city and you shouldn’t miss these galleries: WHATIFTHEWORLD, Goodman Gallery and the AVA gallery.
Años atrás (muchos), mi papa llegó con unas invitaciones para una muestra en el Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, en nuestra casa, en Santiago. En pleno Parque Forestal, se elevaba ese edificio tan bonito al que íbamos cada vez que se nos presentaba la oportunidad. “De Manet a Chagall”, se titulaba la muestra. Fue ahí, por ejemplo, donde por primera vez vi el Puente Japonés de Monet y me quedé estática frente al movimiento del cuadro. Fue también, la primera vez que vi algo de Chagall y aunque no fue tan impresionante como las bailarinas de Degas o Monet, si quedaron sus figuras y poesía pegadas en algún lugar de mi retina, que volvería a encantarme años después.
Hace algunos días, visitando a mi hermana, un viaje a Italia me llevó a conocer un lugar dueño de una naturaleza única e inspiradora, un lugar lleno de historia en donde puedes ver el infinito desde las alturas, fue aquí donde encontré los colores de la vida.
En la región del Valle de Aosta en los Alpes occidentales italianos, lo primero que salta a la vista es la silueta imponente del Fuerte de Bard. Una fortaleza construida en el siglo XIX por la Casa de Saboya, una familia noble del norte de Italia.
Fuerte de Bard
Esta construcción única, es una caja de sorpresas, cada rincón te deja asombrado y mientras más caminas hacia la cúspide, más vas absorbiendo su naturaleza rocosa y te mimetizas con sus colores, la brisa toca tu cara y las montañas ya no se ven tan grandes.
Fue aquí, en medio de los Alpes donde me reencontré con la poesía figurativa de Marc Chagall. Sobre los muros rocosos de esta fortaleza, en el Museo de los Alpes, se extienden los colores del pintor ruso.
Una exposición autobiográfica, llena de movimiento, una explosión de emociones que te llevan a recorrer la vida de Chagall. La niñez del pintor en su natal Vítebsk, su vida en París, el tema de los enamorados y los animales.
“En una naturaleza, en un elemento natural, en un espacio que no es más que un cielo en el que todas las formas retozan completamente libres y gráciles como si fuesen pequeñas criaturas, se emana un color tan fuerte y tan hermoso que parece sobrenatural”
Marc Chagall
La exposición se titula “La Vie”, como su famoso óleo sobre tela de 1964. Una composición que une hechos de la vida real y sueños del autor: su exilio de Rusia a París, su casamiento con Bella Rosenfeld, el nacimiento de su hija Ida , músicos, bailarines y acróbatas. París está representado en tonos azules , ahí se encuentra el pintor contemplando esta historia épica, cada detalle y recuerdo de su vida.
La Vie- Marc Chagall
Dos lugares diferentes y Chagall, me conectaron con los recuerdos más lindos de mi vida, mi familia.
I was born to transmit your voice to distant places through electrical signals.
Nowadays, we can jump continents together, read the news, listen to music, watch a movie, take a picture and show it to the world. I know, I can make distance shorter, but also longer.
Before, I had one fundamental function, now I have thousands of them. So, you can get lost within me, forgetting to talk face to face with family or friends, because you only pay attention to my face, sorry, my screen.
We met at the Henry Tayali Visual Art Centrethe day that his paintings were removed from walls. The zambian painter, Kingsley Kapobe had just finished his solo exhibition that opened a row of shows in the oldest gallery of Zambia. He kindly agreed with me to schedule for the next day to talk about his work and life in Zambia.
Art of beauty
“I’m almost like new in the (art) scene. I been working in the background, but it seems like I am a new person. For people to appreciate you, to know you, you have to bring a lot of ideas, because when you are in your small studio, your work is there, you are confined to yourself, but when you bring it to the public, into a space like this, you even get more ideas from whoever sees your artwork”, Kingsley explained.
Future leaders
Kingsley Kapobe grew up in Luanshya, a small town located in the Cooperbelt province, north of Zambia. During our conversation he remembered a childhood episode that gave him a hint to his passion: “When I was in primary school the teacher noted something in me. She gave me something to draw on the chalk board, and since I’m short and the wall was up there, I had to stand on the top of a big chair. The map that I draw it was artistic, it was not fine but it was the best of all students.”
Buffalo
The artist, also told me the costs of being a painter and how is the situation in Zambia: “Being an artist is very expensive, all materials are imported and when they arrive (in Zambia) we have to scramble to get them. […] Long time ago we used to receive money from the government, but somewhere around 2006 they stopped, now we depend on the sales that we made in the Gallery […]”
Kingsley Kapobe next to his favorite piece: Valley of PeaceThe Henry Tayali Visual Arts Centre (VAC)
Today we share with you the beautiful work of Kingsley Kapobe. Stay in touch with the artist and find out more about his work:
The beating sound of the Zambian group Mbototo, is inside our head bringing African rhythms to this Wednesday.
The Zambian group creates it music by mixing contemporary and traditional local beats with some rock touches of Zamrock. Beautiful music that combines African drums, vocals, and western instruments. Mbototo, began their music career in the late 90s, during their school period at Masala Secondary school on the Copperbelt.
Young filmmaker, Andy Amaya, traveled from El Salvador to “Costa Chica” (Oaxaca, south of Mexico), with the purpose of expending time with African descendant people living there. “Así somos: Afro Identities in the Coast” is the tittle of the short- documentary that resulted from that trip. Take a moment to watch this mini documentary, since it really worth watching (in a very raw way), the protagonist’s sharing thoughts on roots, self-definition and discrimination within Afro-Mexicans in the region.
If you are a bit like us, postcards enthusiastic, then you will love this app. A Postcard A Day is the result of a collaboration between Love Jozi, Gauteng Tourism and south african’s best photographers and designers . By night, by day, colorful illustrations, horizons and gold mine dumps, you can meet the city in a different way. Even though, the app it has not been updated since January, we still think is a very cool way to see the Gauteng province trough different lens and scenarios.
Love Jozi is a Johannesburg based company that manufactures T-shirts and prints, all inspired in the city. Take a look at this very cute Tote and this lovely T-shirt.
As you might know, a country as wide as South Africa holds a variety of cultures and languages, did you know that has 11 official languages? If you ever feel lost in translation you can always get a bit of help, Polilingua is a wonderful Translation Agency that can give you a hand!
Fabby is enjoying the warm summer in Santiago (Chile), with her African sandals by Lila Sublime. Here in Belgium we are looking forward for the warm sun of the summer. Give a fresh touch and creativity to your feet, check out our online shop and find your sandals. Get ready for the next summer!!
***Handmade leather sandals decorated with beads. Made by artisans in Kenya***
This map of African herbs (at least some of them) is a lot of fun!
After a quick look into the map I made some very interesting discoveries. That, probably, the Calendula oil that I use on my son’s skin grows in Namibia and South Africa. Or that Zambia hosts plantations of Baobab Leaves and Bissap (or Hibiscus). Have you ever tried hibiscus tea? —> check out this recipe from the Congo Cook Book.
It was also quite amazing to find out that a very popular cereal consumed in Mexico: the Amaranth (el amaranto) is widely produced in Sierra Leona.
Look into the Baldwin’s herb map of Africa below (yep, the same company that produces delicious teas in the UK) & enjoy the beauty of herbs in Africa!
This very cool fabric-panel featuring the South African singer, Miriam Makeba, also known as “Mama Africa”, traveled the whole way toPunta Arenas, Chile from Pretoria, South Africa. Our good friend Loreto found a great place to display the beauty of African design in Patagonia. Don’t you think?
* Loreto runs a website about Patagonia, you can find out more about her work Love Patagonia Chile
lilasublime.wordpress.com 