Drum had the pleasure of meeting a young visual artist at E.B Motors in Sandton recently.
The high-end care dealership unveiled their newly revamped and expanded space and to top it off, they fused this unveiling with an art exhibition by Chifwelu Kumalinga better known as Cee The Kreator.
His edgy and partially abstract works graced the walls of the dealership and made for a great conversation starter.
He was also commissioned to do the paint on two exotic cars in the dealership, a McLaren and a Porche which was painted in an eccentric street style with characters gracing the body, the rims on one side were given a pink trim and a green one on the other. Quite the way to make a mark especially with this being his first solo exhibition.
Maps Maponyane handled the curation of the evening’s festivities which also included a fashion show by local luxury brand Boyde. Towards the midway mark of the night, a cloaked car serving as the centrepiece of the showroom was unveiled, a blue McLaren wrapped in a Cee The Kreator artwork.
“I feel blessed man, it’s an honour to see all the people that came through,” the talented artist avers.
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The 28-year-old Cee who was born in Zambia and raised in South Africa has also opted to lift others as he rises through a creative conglomerate, he calls Blockboy and Friends.
In terms of how the art game came about initially for Cee, “it has basically been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I have been painting and drawing for ages. In terms of Blockboy that started out as a school project and from that point I liked what I was putting out and I figured let me further develop this brand.”
Things got to a point where he was able to launch this brand at an expo in Dubai centred on hip hop, fashion art and design exhibition which he says trained his focus and sharpened his skills.
“When it comes to the fine art that’s where I had to look a little more into myself and mirror my emotions and thoughts, you know, things that I like and my form of expression.”
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He revels in being able to generate revenue from his artistry.
“The easiest thing about being in the industry is just being able to make anything you want and that’s where the joy is. The challenge is the business aspects. You always have to be careful and mindful of how you move, and who you work for. I would urge all artists to be wary.”
At the launch, socialites and celebrities circled his racy artworks, ogling at the detail and being sure to take as many photos in front of and next to these as they possibly could and this included Lasizwe Dambuza and Mihlali Ndamase who mooned about in their finest threads.
“The Porche was more of a way to show off the Blockboy brand, the characters, logos and iconography are all on there. Just to get people more familiar with it. The Mclaren was more of a freestyle. Let me have fun with this and do what I have to do here and something that can inspire the kids.
“That’s what is great about art and it is important, if you have a platform then use it and do it with purpose and make sure it’s great and that’s to show the kids that your ideas are valid and they can take you to greater heights.”
This lavish launch is but a milestone as Cee, sees his trajectory taking him to extraordinary heights.
“I feel like the future is going to take me to the moon and I am ready for it. Whatever it is, whatever opportunity comes my way I am jumping at it. Blocboy and Friends is all about that collaborative energy, it’s not just 'and Friends' for fun. We lean into that and want to work with other artists and like-minded people. If you are like that then we want to work with you.
“I’d say don’t give up on your dreams. If had listened to other people then I wouldn’t be here right now. Sometimes doubt might creep in but even that you have to get over."
