Multidisciplinary artist Dada Khanyisa is using creatively crafted artworks to raise awareness about complex social dynamics.
Your work has been described as exploring contemporary South African youth culture through art. How do you capture these societal structures in your work?
At the core of my practice is an interest in social dynamics. I use the work I make to explore how people relate. This is a study of urban sensuality... I have a sincere interest in contemporary living patterns, and the youth are a fascinating subject for this study.
The use of sculpted wood in your works lends a unique three-dimensional quality. What inspired you to incorporate this material and technique into your art, and what effect do you hope it has on the viewer?
As an art student I was interested in both sculpting and painting. Over time I zoomed in on the interest I had in wood, leading me to a visual style that fuses wood, textiles and painted details. The visuals have changed and matured as I’ve encountered different wood species, composites and other usable materials. I’m hoping that my curiosity for the tangible is clear to the audience.
Sustainability and environmental consciousness are increasingly important. How does your use of recycled or reused materials contribute to the narratives within your work?
The inclusion of timber is both a remedy and a concern at times, especially when conversations around over-farming and deforestation come up. The remedial quality of wood lies in how reusable, malleable and biodegradable the material is. I work with found objects, like thrifted clothing, when a need to render a realistic effect comes up. I also purchase from antique stores and other commercial archives, as a way to repurpose an object.
What message do you hope to convey through sustainable practice?
It would have to be the freedom to express through various outlets, like dress sense, attitude, love patterns and subjects of interest.
How do you approach character creation in your pieces?
The process is different with every work. There are times when a character’s pose comes before the facial features or before the message I’m trying to communicate. There are also instances where a person inspires a work based on their preferred photography: supplied outlet of expression.
What do you want viewers to take away from their interactions with your work?
A freedom, of sorts. And tolerance for things they do not practise or understand.
Can you share any specific experiences or moments in your life that have significantly influenced your style or subject matter?
Studying animation helped shape my visual language – I got to learn about posturing a character, and using secondary body parts to communicate. The facial style I use is a direct result of my training as a cartoonist/animator.
How does your environment inform your artistic process?
I draw [inspiration] from people I keep in my life, people I see in the neighbourhood and even strangers I meet through my [social media].
How do you see your art contributing to conversations within our local and global communities?
My work highlights an overlap in life patterns, interests and social dynamics that play out in most urban settings. Most people start their day with a cup of coffee, others prefer their first meal after noon; some want a secure monogamous relationship, while others have explored a broader intimate language. This is to say that the topics I speak on are not unique to the southern hemisphere.
Are there new directions or themes you hope to explore in your art?
I have an interest in both motion and light, and a curiosity for where the two can meet.
Where can we find you?
Text by Catherine Mo
