Local artists turn invasive flower and plastic into art
Woza Moya’s October Artist Wall features 'The Red Devil', a collaboration by upcycling and plastic-crochet artists.
THE Woza Moya Artist Wall this month (October) features Mxolisi and Lynette, who collaborated to create The Red Devil, their artistic interpretation of the red canna flower.
Mxolisi is part of the Woza Moya upcycling team and works extensively with recycled and upcycled materials, finding creative ways to give discarded materials a new purpose. Lynette transforms plastic in a special way, crocheting it into colourful mats, hats and other creations.
For The Red Devil, Woza Moya executive manager, Paula Thomson, said the two brought their different skills together, combining recycled plastic with crocheted plastic to create an art piece.
Also read: Flowers inspire local artist
“The bright red, yellow and blue colours immediately draw you in, giving the piece a playful and beautiful appearance,” said Thomson.
But there is more to the sculpture than its striking colours.
“The red canna may be beautiful, but it is also an invasive plant that can have a damaging effect on local ecosystems. Plastic, while useful in our everyday lives, has also become a major environmental problem when it is discarded and not properly managed,” said Thomson.
By bringing these two elements together, she said Mxolisi and Lynette explore the idea that beauty can sometimes hide something harmful.
The concept behind the Woza Moya Artists’ Wall and Artists’ Cards is to create and showcase artists’ work. Woza Moya is the economic empowerment project of the Hillcrest Aids Centre Trust and assists the artist by marketing their work for the month.
The Woza Moya Artists’ Wall thanked the 100% Foundation for coming on board with an ongoing sponsorship and making this monthly event possible.
Shop opening times:
Monday to Friday: 08:00 – 16:00 Woza Moya Hillcrest Aids Centre Trust, 26 Old Main Road, Hillcrest
Monday to Friday: 09:00 – 17:00 Woza Moya, Kloof Fields Centre
Saturdays 08:00 – 14:00 HACT and 09:00 – 14:00 Kloof Fields shop
Email: wozamoya@hillaids.org.za
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