Strokes of inspiration

SENTENCED to death for drug trafficking at the age of 34 in Thailand, with his sentence commuted to life imprisonment (equivalent to 100 years) in return for a guilty plea, Shani Krebs’ story and how his art evolved is truly inspiring.

He was finally released and returned to South Africa after 18 years of being incarcerated in five different prisons where he was subjected to the most horrendous and dehumanising conditions imaginable.

Here he evolved spiritually, rehabilitated himself and developed his artistic skills that surpassed his wildest dreams. His state of mind fluctuated between periods of deep, dark depression to the point of almost wanting to commit suicide.

Through his faith he developed the ability to transcend his reality during which he encountered an out of body experience, claiming to enter the spiritual realm where how he puts it “I was touched by angels”.

He further added that his talent was a blessing. Instead of destroying lives with drugs to redeem himself he began to paint portraits of people bringing joy into their lives.

Today Shani is drug-free for 23 years. It took real determination to get clean while in prison as drugs were readily available.

The art of colour

Having no art materials Shani initially designed and fashioned his own paintbrushes by cutting the bristles from a toothbrush and attaching them to a bamboo stick. He then diluted coffee and made birthday greeting cards for other prisoners.

In the early years his creations were only drawn in black ballpoint pen, the colour black symbolising his oppression and confinement.

Then in January 1999 he was shackled and thrown into solitary confinement. For the first time in his entire life he felt free, a freedom of a contrasting nature and here he managed to organise an A4 drawing pad and basic water colours.

Using the faint light that filtered into his cell from the corridor, Shani expressed himself by painting in colour. From thereon he developed and broadened his technique.

For works like these to be produced under normal circumstances in a bright, ventilated, well-equipped studio would be remarkable in itself. Shani was not only forced to work in cramped conditions with no facilities or equipment. To worsen matters, temperatures averaging 35 – 40°C for most of the year and a humidity factor of 90 per cent, drawing and painting was made all the more complex and challenging.

As time passed, family and friends were able to arrange materials for him, making that aspect of his art a little easier.

Shani was released from prison in 2012, miraculously only after serving 17 and a half years of his initial sentence.

Beautiful art to the people

Besides his completed works, Shani’s art is now in great demand and is being commissioned by people from all over South Africa and abroad, to complete specific works using the same skills and techniques which he developed in prison.

Artist, poet, motivational speaker and author – Shani published his autobiography in 2014 entitled Dragons and Butterflies.

It is a fascinating, insightful and absorbing read and not to be missed. Discussions are also underway for the production of a movie.

Shani is in the process of writing a sequel to his first book, with the working title Shackles of Freedom, which is his story about readjusting to life after prison.

After so many years in prison Shani was truly overwhelmed with his sudden freedom. He missed prison, struggled with anger and suffered from nightmares.

For Shani art has been a lifeline and a form of therapy through and through. Shani said that he has no regrets, that he is grateful for every part of his journey, and adds that he was more of a prisoner as a drug addict than he ever was when incarcerated.

Today his mission is to bring beautiful art to people, instead of being a deliverer of death. He said this as he reflects on his life as a drug dealer before being caught.

Shani recently opened his art gallery at the Mall of the South, where he displays his own art, and that of other upcoming artists. He also mentors students.

To commission a personal work, or to find out more about art classes, Shani can be contacted on 078 665 9656 on email at shanikrebs@hotmail.com

For free daily local news in the south, visit our sister newspapers Alberton Record, Comaro Chronicle, Southern Courier and Get it Joburg South Magazine.

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