FETAFRIK WITH A TWIST AS MUSTAFA HASSANALI BRINGS AFRICAN FASHION TO VICTORIA
(Posted 23rd May 2015)
Seychelles, politically, geographically and historically linked to Africa, every year celebrates FetAfrik, the festival marking Africa Day and celebrating the artistic, cultural and related achievements of artists the archipelago and from the African mainland.
The exceptional beauty, diversity and contemporary relevance of Africa’s art were admired at the National Arts Gallery this year to mark the launch of FetAfrik 2015.
The Afrikart exhibition opened on May 21st, the eve of FetAfrik’s official opening and incorporated the works of five artists from different generations, horizons and techniques.
Afrikart is the first major exhibition in the Seychelles to explore the evolving ways in which African artists express their uniqueness through their personal techniques.
The exhibition was opened by the Chief Executive of the National Arts Council Jimmy Savy.
On show were semi abstract paintings of Jude Ally, combined with Urny Mathiot’s surrealism techniques and Christine Chetty Payet’s symbolic art, a one of a kind exhibition for those passionate about indigenous art.
Christine Chetty Payet, the master of patch work this time tried to divert her language of art to something different. Footprints carved within her patch works clearly demonstrated her intention of incorporating new symbols in her work.
Jude Ally’s acrylic mixed with clue artwork combine realism and illustration to create a technique of semi- abstract. Urny Mathiot on the other hand followed the path of great artist Michelangelo of surrealism techniques.
The star of the exhibition though was Chansa Chishimba ? a sculptor, textile designer and painter from Zambia.
Like all artists Chansa Chishimba initially worked on paper and canvas but unlike other artists, Chansa Chishimba developed a one of a kind technique turning abstract into realism on papaya tree bark fibre.
In his work Chansa Chishimba combined graphic and pattern. Akakakashana Akapya, one of his masterpieces brought to Seychelles, gained much admiration and credits from professionals and well established artists in the country, incorporating symbols of baobab, snakes and colours of red, black white. Chansa’s technique on papaya tree bark fibre had been acclaimed in Zambia and European countries such as Germany and Sweden where he has exhibited his artworks.
While officially opening the exhibition did Mr. Savy comment on the participation of foreign artists in the exhibition, saying it will cultivate the use of sharing ideas and expertise. He added that arts is a manifestation of culture. ‘Artists are often seen as individuals who simply create for pleasure or visual appreciation. Yet few of us realise that the Arts are a manifestation of culture – culture being an expression of the way we live, and the way we are, and the beliefs, customs, and especially the values, that we hold sacred as Seychellois; or for that matter, in all other cultures’.
But it will no doubt be the presence of East Africa’ premier fashion designer and the creator of the Swahili Fashion Week, which every year celebrates fabrics and fashions made in East Africa, Mr. Mustafa Hassanali, which will raise make the most waves at FetAfrik this year. Mustafa will showcase some of his creations this weekend in Victoria as part of his attendance of the Seychelles Chamber of Commerce and Industry fair. Seychelles is the 22nd country and Victoria is the 31st city he has been to with his unique designs and when recently talking to him he expressed he expressed his hope that during the 30th anniversary of the Festival Kreol in October this year he will be able to organize a Creole Fashion Week, dedicated to the colours, designs and fashions from across the entire Creole world.
It is the Seychelles calendar of such events like Fetafrik, which to a large degree is responsible for the renewed and rekindled interests in the archipelago from across the world, having added the cultural component to its already unique tourism product of sun, sand and sea. Visitor arrivals in fact for the first few months of this year are up by 15 percent compared to the record breaking year of 2014, probably a harbinger of things to come for the island’s tourism industry which is benefitting from a relentless marketing juggernaut undertaken by the Seychelles’ Tourism Board which works hand in hand with the airlines flying to the archipelago. The special blend of the Seychelles’ natural beauty and attractions combined with such festivals like the annual Carnival International de Victoria has given the archipelago pole position in the race to remain one of the world’s most sought after destinations.
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