There is always something magical about Zululand, the green land, the lakes with hippos deep in, the warm weather, friendly people, the food, and lastly the artist Miss Mandy Brockbank.
I met Mandy in 2011 one-summer holiday in Sodwana Bay in her small shop where she creates beautiful crafts and paintings. I fell in love with her work and off course with her charismatic smile and her vibrant energy. I remember looking up the roof of her small shop, there was this big painting that could fit a billboard and this painting was kinder of 2010 world cup celebration, I must admit I wanted to steal it but I thought about the weight and how far I could get away with it so I let it go.
Moving around the small shop, I realized that she was telling stories about Zululand, she paint this beautiful land and really emphasis the true African culture. Believe me if you honestly want to own true African art do yourself a favor and visit Mandy’s world. There is nothing more appealing and exciting when an artist give you the feel of the world that is unknown to you, that feeling of learning something new through the brush and colorful paints, it just an overwhelming feeling.
I admire Miss Brockbank for many reasons, her wisdom, her vision towards the African art and story telling, her creativity and so forth, the list is endless. Mandy is currently working to establish a project called Dev’ocean Art Project, this project is to educate women and children in art, (environment and recycling), this project will be based in Zululand and as far I could tell, it worth to invest in it as it enrich the underprivileged children and youth from the rural areas.
Mandy Brockbank has been involved in several exhibition and project, Hillcrest Group Exhibition 2010; Red Alert 2011 Hluhluwe; Intellectual Property 2012 Durban KZNSA and Thupelo Workshop Cape Town 2012.
If you want to learn more about Mandy Brockbank’s work and her current project please drop her an email: art@mandybrockbank.co.za or join her on facebook: Mandy Brockbank.
