Dutch-British photographer Tom van Schelven is high-energy, and it shows in the gleeful scenes that his camera frames. In ‘In Flight’, his recent series for WePresent, good times get airborne as a troupe of acrobats leap and tumble through the Atlantis Dunes in South Africa.

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Journeying to the planet’s most sun-soaked corners, Dutch photographer Dennis Swiatkowski documents the places of dreams.

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Margot Molyneux, the owner of the eponymous clothing brand known for its classic styling and feminine silhouettes, has opened her first store in Cape Town.

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Capetown-based photographer Christopher Shaw captures stimulating structural compositions while experimenting with light, shadows and color.

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Born in Slovenia, raised in Croatia and now based in Berlin, photographer Katja Kremenic works mostly in analogue to create intimate, evocative images.

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AVASHONI MAINGANYE

We met Avashoni Mainganye a visual artist and sculptor of the Venda people in the Culture and Arts Centre in Thohoyandou. He expresses himself in various forms and mediums such as painting and printing, wood and stone carving, photography and poetry. His friends calls him ‘Shoni’. Wood is an important material for him as a Venda, since wood resembles the place of their origin. „It tributes to us as being sculptors. Many cultural aspects are reflected in the wood. When you think of wood, it’s something you can feel. The wood carvers, they dream of wood when they sleep. Sculpture is part of our lives and culture. The commercial part of it came when people from Europe came and traded with it“.

He worked with big galleries, but claims „they sometimes restrict you and want to show one side of you. But im not that kind of person, I’m a person with many ideas. I’m not searching for myself, I want to reflect what’s inside and look what media suits best”. Since 1999 he has also been running his own art classes for students in the Thohoyandou Arts and Culture Centre. Many of the less known artists in the area were taught and instructed by him. Avashoni organized various exhibitions in South Africa, and founded the VhaVenda Art Foundation. He participated in a broad range of events, workshops and traveled to Zimbabwe, Switzerland, Netherlands, Belgium and the USA to teach his art form.

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KAROSS

Kaross is an embroidery initiative that was founded in 1989 by dutch charismatic visual artist Irma van Rooyen and her husband with five Shangaan embroiders on their citrus farm in Letsitele, Northern Limpopo. „When we started the farm, we were suddenly involved in peoples life. Shangaan people are very artistic and skillful people. I saw the possibility to take embroidery further and do something for the quality of their lives. The woman can earn money by doing what they love and are good at. There exist a need for rural woman to acknowledge and explore their own capacity to make a difference in their communities and South Africa as a whole. Kaross believes in playing their part in realizing these peoples potential and empowering women,” she says.

The embroiderer receive cloth with the design pre-drawn onto it, together with a range of cotton-thread. They are free in creating their own colorful interpretation of it and after completing the work at their homes, the worker returns for payment and new work. These embroidered pieces are then made into tablecloths, place mats, cushion covers, wall hangings and bed linen. This way women of the region (and later on men) could work from home and watch their children whilst getting an income at the same time. This has a positive influence on the very fibre of the community.
Irmas recent project as an artist besides being creative director is creating a portrait of each worker of Kaross. She takes photos of all 1200 women and makes interviews with the ladies: Who they are, if they’re suffering, if they’re happy and so on. She writes a little story, whatever peaks her about the woman and then embroid each and everyones portrait and documenting all the people.

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THOMAS KUBAYI

Thomas Kubayi is a very talented and popular wood carver, drum builder, musician and story teller. Woodcarving is inherited in Thomas’ family. Both his grandfather and father were woodcarvers and made functional art. We get to know him at his own art centre in Tshivhuyuni village, near Elim, Northern Limpopo. It’s a relaxed and rural atmosphere with sweeping views of the villages on the foothills of the Soutpansberg. Here he built up his own gallery and teaches young artists to carve and make traditional music and instruments. “The wood tells you what to do. You just need to listen. You have to follow the line and spend time with the wood before you start, it will come day by day and can take some years to progress”. He likes to make big sculptures, like the 3 meter high Mandela sculpture that is an expression of the great man’s strong yet gentle integrity. Thomas’ work is found in many private and public collections all over the world.
He also organizes music performances and woodcarving workshops and understands himself as a role model in his community. He’s involved in different initiatives in the village. We were lucky enough to listen to his music over a campfire. He has an exceptional gift for rhythm and music and frequently gathers young people to play traditional music together.

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Text and Images by Anke Nunheim, Edited by Ana Santl

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Our starting point is the small airport at Polokwane – Limpopo’s capital which means “place of safety”. The further North we go the more hilly and green it gets around us. Baobab trees with their healing power loom into the sky. Here you can easily escape the hustle and bustle of the South African cities and loose yourself in the silence and vastness of the bush land. We discover a nature of rugged wilderness with unexpected valleys, subtropical forests, steep canyons and mile long mango, lychee and avocado plantations.

This region forms the backdrop of many talented and creative tribes, especially the Venda, Tsonga, Zulu and Tsonga people. Their rich cultural heritage, mythical background and spiritual beliefs are connected to the surrounding nature. Many of these places carry a spiritual meaning, a place where people can connect with their ancestors. One of the holy places is lake Fundudzi – according to legend inhabited by a goddess of fertility in the form of a python. These myths are handed down from generation to generation and get clearly visible in the artistic expression and unique interpretations of their art.

The artists and craftsmen of the region are known for their wood carvings, their unique drums and textiles. In the townships we experience an authentic and modern everyday life and the hospitality and ‘joie de vivre’ of its proud inhabitants. On a weekly market we bravely taste Mopane worms and termites and learn from a local 91-year-old healer about the miraculous powers of roots and herbs. We visit a storyteller and listen to the pulsating rhythms of homemade instruments.

This part of the country is also famous for its abundant wildlife. A large part of the Kruger National Park is located in this province, but Mapungubwe National Park is just as worth seeing. It was declared UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003 and is the richest archaeological site of Africa. We take an early morning walk through the bush, criss cross parched riverbeds and watch elephants and frolicking monkeys from afar. If they’re not hiding from the african sun, you can also see the Big 4 (lion, leopard, rhino, elephant), take a sunset drive and end your day with a Bush Braai (BBQ African) and the swirling sounds of the South African bushland.

Thanks to South African Tourism for the invitation to this special and pristine region. If you want to visit South Africa yourself, you can send a free postcard to a friend and win a trip to South Africa here.

Text and Images by Anke Nunheim, Edited by Ana Santl

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In the end of last year, iGNANT was invited to come to South Africa and we didn’t have to think twice and took this unique chance to escape the grey German winter. iGNANTravel got the chance to explore the jungle of KwaZulu-Natal, to live in traditional Zulu huts and to dive into the Indian Ocean to visit the sharks. In Durban we met authentic culture, fascinating markets and dream-like beaches with the best spots for surfing and water sports in the world. Up-country in the Pilanesberg National Park wildlife rules and humans become spectators – which is just great. Here, many endangered species are protected from big-game hunters and other intruders. Thank you South Africa for your unique charm and the impressive experience.

The trip was sponsored by ‘dein-suedafrika.de’ and ‘flysaa.com’. Thank you.

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