2019 Poster Illustration Finalists and Winner – Leigh Le Roux!
Story Posted: 26 June 2019
Categories: Festival,Artists,Press
We are super delighted to reveal from almost 40 submissions the following runners up and winning work for the 2019 Fak’ugesi Festival Poster Illustration contest – OWN YOUR FORCE ! It was very very hard to choose and we had so many favourites, we hope to share alot more of the submissions with you at Fak’ugesi Festival this year.
The following three runners up we chose as their work had beautiful design sensibility and their illustrations really resonated with the theme of the 2019 Festival. Runners up where all equal, meaning there is no first or second place, the are all just awesome.
First is someone who we have not yet had the pleasure to meet in person – Akulu Lipenga, working in the art industry in Blantyre, Malawi.
- What inspires you to create?
Artists that are a lot better than me, inspires me to keep creating so I might reach their level.
- Tell us about your poster design.
Our African identity
- With the theme of this year’s event being ‘’Own Your Force’’ how do you own your force in your space?
I guess I always try to make space to create the things that I want and put it out there.
- How has digital changed the landscape? What role does digital play in your work?
It’s given us access to a lot more. The internet has so much information, so much inspiration. As a digital artist. I feel like it’s enabled me to learn and experiment with a lot more than before I really got into the digital scape.
- With the world looking into Africa for inspiration, which can be a boost for the creative economy how do you as an artist protect your craft but also being opened for collaboration?
I think it can be hard to protect our crafts in the digital playing field, so I’m actually not sure how I’d do that but I am extremely open to collaboration, all the cultures in the world know so many different things and we can really complement each other.
More on Akulu on ArtStation , @_akulu Twitter and @_akulu Instagram
Then we have our leading lady Madikela Dikgale who is graphic designer in Johannesburg.
- What inspires you to create?
Everyday Conversations, Reading News and taking walks.
- Tell us about your poster design.
Inspired by the Caster Semenya case and the IWF and two hands showing the rainbow nation notation.
- With the theme of this year’s event being ‘’Own Your Force’’ how do you own your force in your space?
Owning my force is about maintaining a healthy mental state and being mentally fit.
- How has digital changed the landscape? What role does digital play in your work?
Being able to manipulate things, being able to reach more masses than ever before.
- With the world looking into Africa for inspiration, which can be a boost for the creative economy how do you as an artist protect your craft but also being opened for collaboration?
At some point you need to just trust the system and let it out, every artist has their own style and yours too will show.
More on Madikela on @_madikela Twitter and @_madikela Instagram
And Joburg based Maisha Mamabolo aka Mash who is an artist, photographer, designer who works as a freelancer in the marketing space.
- What inspires you to create?
My overactive imagination.
- Tell us about your poster design.
Africa being called the dark content, full of so much energy, light and force. The narrative behind Africa needs to be owned by the people.
- With the theme of this year’s event being ‘’Own Your Force’’ how do you own your force in your space?
Being fully present in every single moment.
- How has digital changed the landscape? What role does digital play in your work?
How hasn’t it? (LOL) Digital has been instrumental in how we see and know the world today. Telling my story better.
- With the world looking into Africa for inspiration, which can be a boost for the creative economy how do you as an artist protect your craft but also being opened for collaboration?
Do good work and put it where people can see it.
More on Mash @H8BeingUpToD8 Twitter and @instamash Instagram.
And very last but certainly not least our WINNER ! the amazingly vibrant, Leigh Le Roux who works in the advertising, graphic design and UI space. Liegh has been working tirelessly over the last few weeks with our brand manager to craft his illustration to the look of Fak’ugesi Festival 2019! Thanks Leigh!
- What inspires you to create?
Creating is my chill thing to do alone.
- Tell us about your poster design.
My inspiration was the Feminine power.
- With the theme of this year’s event being ‘’Own Your Force’’ how do you own your force in your space?
Continuously growing in my craft.
- How has digital changed the landscape? What role does digital play in your work?
It has become more viable. Everything.
- With the world looking into Africa for inspiration, which can be a boost for the creative economy how do you as an artist protect your craft but also being opened for collaboration?
I’m always up for collaboration.
More on Leigh on Behance, @leighleroux Twitter and @leighleroux Instagram.
