12 Jan 2015

With the domination of artificial colours and artefacts, Lucky Onneile Gabankalafe had the courage to break the rules a little and flow with art of a different texture.

Gabankalafe,  61, from Omaweneno said she opted to be unique in her art through the use of paper, wood, seed pods from different trees and soil. She said trees like Mokha have very unique shapes while dry which they call Dikokono.

Gabankalafe said her reason to use soil was because soil mixture gives a product a natural taste thus making it more attractive.

She said her route to go the natural way was because she had realized that most artists used paint and artificial colour which loses a society’s cultural identity.

Miss Gabankalafe said firstly she starts by softening newspapers and soaking them in hot water. After they have cooled off she adds a bit of flour to harden them.

After a day the mash is ready for moulding and that is when she designs anything she has in mind.

She then leaves the designs to dry which can take about three days or more based on the thickening and make of the product.

She also said she tries by all means to reduce the thickening of her designs so that she may prevent them from water logging which can make them to rot and have unpleasant smell.

Elaborating further Miss Gabankalafe said once dry that’s when she gets to the real design and colouring.

She said she starts by making soil mixtures then apply it so that they can be even so that while making her designs they will run smoothly.

Miss Gabankalafe said with her current work she has changed the perception she had about other things, saying nowadays she no longer looks at papers as litter or garbage but to her it is a source of money.

She further said it has also taught her it is better to recycle than to throw away litter because litter can be harmful to animals and dirties the environment.

Gabankalafe said a clean environment is important as this can attract investors into the region, adding “what a better way to clean an environment other than to recycle paper into something beneficial ,” she adds.

She said the reception of her work was very promising and she looks forward to expanding her business.

She said her biggest challenge is lack of operational space saying most of her stuff get stuck in the house and collect dust. ENDS