Mandla Sibeko is Director of the FNB JoburgArtFair and Founder of Seed Capital Ventures.
Name one artist you would love to meet.
Marlene Dumas
What are you reading at the moment?
Empire of Cotton: A Global History by Sven Beckert, it’s a brilliant book about the burgeoning of capitalism and the roots of inequality.
What is in your car’s CD player?
My music library is quite eclectic; it ranges from Hugh Masekela to Youssou N’dour or Jay Z for example.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
I would not change anything because I believe my life experiences, specifically as a South African, have shaped me for the better, but I always stay open to learning and growing.
How have the arts industries in South Africa changed over the last ten years?
We’ve seen a shift in focus wherein our artists are taking centre stage on a global scale at a faster pace. The access they now have to show their work in important museums and spaces internationally, is testament to the world-class work we produce here and speaks of what is possible in the future.
Name one thing you think would improve the arts and culture industry in South Africa.
On a macro scale, I think spending more resources on creative education would see a bigger economic and social shift in the industry and in the country, but I think we can start with embedding the value of it from primary school levels onwards.
What is your most treasured possession?
I value experiences more than I treasure possessions, we all love beautiful things but it’s experiences that shape the context of our lives.
What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
Hopelessness. I think we all should do what we can for ourselves and our fellow man to avoid reaching that point.
What is it that makes you happy?
Positive people from all walks of life! Seeing people find beauty in a world that’s messy and often dark fills me with a lot of joy.
What projects will you be busy with during 2017 and into 2018?
The tenth edition of the FNB JoburgArtFair in September, the Sanlam Handmade Contemporary Fair in October and also the rolling out of a national sculpture fair happening over three provinces, to name a few.
Name one goal you would like to achieve in the next twelve months.
I want to do as much as I can to give momentum to initiatives that propel art and the creative industries forward, it’s a big picture goal.
For more information about the FNB JoburgArtFair have a look at these articles:
[button color=”” size=”” type=”” target=”” link=”http://creativefeel.co.za/2017/08/fnb-joburgartfair-2017-details-of-tenth-edition-announced”]FNB JoburgArtFair 2017: Details of Tenth Edition Announced[/button]
[button color=”” size=”” type=”” target=”” link=”http://creativefeel.co.za/2017/08/looking-back-looking-forward/”]Director’s Note: FNB JoburgArtFair, Looking Back / Looking Forward[/button]
[button color=”#ff6600″ size=”” type=”” target=”” link=”http://creativefeel.co.za/2017/08/encore-mandla-sibeko/”]Creative Feel’s interview with Manda Sibeko[/button]
[button color=”” size=”” type=”” target=”” link=”http://creativefeel.co.za/2017/08/prestigious-annual-fnb-art-prize-awarded-to-peju-alatise”]Prestigious annual FNB Art Prize awarded to Peju Alatise[/button]
[button color=”” size=”” type=”” target=”” link=”http://creativefeel.co.za/2017/08/robin-rhode-the-mysteries/”]Robin Rhode: The Mysteries[/button]
[button color=”” size=”” type=”” target=”” link=”http://creativefeel.co.za/2017/08/looking-both-ways/”]Looking Both Ways by Sean O’Toole[/button]
[button color=”” size=”” type=”” target=”” link=”http://creativefeel.co.za/2017/08/bmw-7-series-individual-by-esther-mahlangu-now-in-south-africa”]BMW 7 Series Individual by Esther Mahlangu now in South Africa[/button]
