Nico Phooko: Music Inspired Visual Artist
“Music and art are closely related and it is an incredible discovery to know that there is the art of making music and the music of making art.”
You’re at a club or a concert. Out of the corner of your eye, you see an artist seated in front of an empty canvas. By the end of the event, you glance over to see that the canvas has been masterfully covered in an aesthetically pleasing array of colored lines and shapes. LIVE PAINTING! One of Africa’s most gifted visual artists, one who has embraced and popularized this unique concept, South African Nico Phooko, is part of the 2020 BdA Artist Fellowship cohort. Phooko uses the technique to capture the essence of special events live on canvas. We asked Phooko to share a little more about himself with us as we lead up to the festival.
Who are your people?
I am the descendant of the Zulus and Mapulana People of South Africa. My father is Zulus. Zulus also known as Amazulu, are a Bantu ethnic group of Southern Africa. The Zulu are the largest ethnic group in South Africa with an estimated 10-12 million people living mainly in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. The Zulu originated from Nguni communities who took part in the Bantu migrations.
My Mother is Mopulana, The Pulana or Mapulana, are a low-veld Bapedi ethnic group found in the northeastern part of the Mpumalanga and southeastern Limpopo provinces. Their language is called Sepulana and is considered a dialect of the Northern Sotho language group.
Where did you find yourself?
In the dusty streets of Kwa-Thema where I was born and bred.
If solely up to you, where would you be and why?
I’d have my unique music inspired art known to more people than the ones who do right now. Music and art are closely related and it is an incredible discovery to know that there is the art of making music and the music of making art.
What memory/ies have informed how you traverse/navigate the world?
I have met very gifted and humane artists who remind me that I am on the right track representing and practicing my God given gifts.
Who or what inspires your art/creativity?
People and music.
How did you hone/cultivate yourself into the artist and genre you find yourself today?
By looking into music as a source of inspiration and subject matter. Also by breaking the stereotype that artists should be subjected to their studios to execute work for galleries and museum exhibitions and took to the stage with my brushes and paints.
What social issues does your art/creative work address?
The power of music.
What is one major change you would like to see in your local community, your nation, or globally/worldwide?
End racism for good.
Tell us about your favorite/preferred mode of transporting yourself around.
Driving.
If you weren’t a creative/artist, what would you be doing? Or perhaps you are an artist/creative and doing other things. What are those other things?
I’d be a human rights attorney.
Check out Niko Phooko’s work here:
Website/Facebook/Youtube /Instagram
Also, due to being locked down, we can't exhibit and perform. Please support our cause to raise funds for an up and coming art project. Any bit counts: gogetfunding
Nico Phooko is one of the core artists of Bakanal de Afrique, the premier global festival of Pan-African Urban culture, community and creatives; see their new work premiering Nov 6- Nov 30, 2020, exclusively on www.BakanalDeAfrique.com.