Karabo Mokoena is Not Another Art Hub

Karabo Mokoena was born and bred in the city of Johannesburg. After her parent’s divorce she spent a few more years in Hillbrow which is one of the most infamous neighbourhoods of jozi. Hillbrow was one of the most politically progressive and one of the first identifiable gay and lesbian areas, later it became an area for migrants from the townships as well as the rest of Africa. One can imagine how dangerously colourful it was there, most of our prominent artistic legends spent their lives creating there. This is a place where Karabo began to notice all the art surrounding her and her love for street art began. ” I guess my eyes started roaming the walls during my time there, I fell in love so hard and I’ve never looked back.”

She is now theAnd; an illustration exhibition bringing together CORE from Cape Town and The Weird from Berlin, Germany.

HRVB

NAAH, Tell us more about this particular concept. how it came about  and what makes it different from other residencies?

I’ve always been looking for different ways to build this culture, to push it however I can from my end. This is really all I love and want to do in my life so I wanted to create a way for myself to immerse myself in it, I look up to some people overseas who push the urban arts even though they don’t necessarily put their creations on the walls. So when I thought of starting this, I was also conceptualising for a future with all those people and artists from all over the world. I want to take our artists there and bring their artists here; so many are dying to come here.

What are you trying to achieve with NAAH?

I have very big plans for this little love of mine, many collaborative projects, growing into a residency space and hosting some incredible urban art festivals.

Rayaan Cassiem

This is a pretty “risky” career path when one thinks of financial security, is your family supportive of this endeavour?

One thing I have truly been blessed with is parents who have supported any decision I have ever made, they know there’s risk but they know what I need and they want me to be happy in life. A friend of mine says I value happiness more than money, I don’t necessarily see that as a bad thing. If I’m doing what I love there’s just no way the things that are meant to come for me wont.What’s even better is that I get to be in complete bliss everyday.

Where can people get a hold of everything NAAH?

You can check out our facebook page, notanotherarthub. Website still under construction

Anwar Davids