|
|
|
|
B-Girl Be: A Celebration of Women in Hip HopJune 28 – September 9, 2007rap . graffiti . dj . dance . panels . fashion . poetry . visual exhibition . film |
|
Motel7 |
|
| I started painting graffiti when I was 15, I
was very active in the hiphop culture in south Africa, but was too shy to
ever get around to doing any of the other elements of it, I found a certain
comfort in graffiti, and finally found what made me who I am today. I also
do a lot of street art, illustrations and exhibitions, coming from a country
rife with politics, poverty and corruption; it is impossible to not say
something. I like to make light of what is a very serious situation. As
a woman, I cannot take the train alone, I cannot walk down my own street
without pepper spray, and it is near impossible to go bombing and tagging
by myself without the possibility of getting raped. This reality is very
real, and we experience it every day, but it is almost surreal, not really
there, and this is what I express in my art. Hip-hop is very important to
me, what it means, and what I am able to say. I don’t think most people
are aware of the way we live here. Last year I started a crew with another graffiti artist (coolmk), called the std crew, making a light judgement of the very big problem in this country- aids and stds. We try to make statements, but ones that are simple and funny, people seem to respond to humour more in this country. And recently I have started another crew with two other artists- ekon and playone, called tk. There are very few female artists, to be precise, only faith47 and me. This worries me, but also motivates me to be the best I can be. www.flickr.com/photos/motel7 www.myspace.com/motel7stdcru
|
 |
kid & family-friendly . all ages . all genders . all incomes . all ethnic communities |
|