Meet Malebona Maphutse | Multimedia artist & Filmmaker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Malebona Maphutse and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Malebona, how do you think about risk?
I think risk taking is crucial to starting and maintaining a business. I have applied risk taking to the entire scope of my life. I think being a full time artist and entrepreneur requires a level of risk taking that makes most people uncomfortable. It also means the risks are high with high rewards but the lessons are equally as grandiose. I have travelled to parts of the world in pursuit of my career and it has meant that stability has been scarce within the last 7 years of my 20’s. It’s a risk that encouraged me to move to LA in pursuit of my dreams to be a filmmaker after working as a multimedia artist. Risk taking means you will engage with people’s anxiety about your decisions and it requires a strong willingness to push forward even if the odds look stacked against you. I sometimes think it requires a crazy dreamer to keep going under some of the conditions I have faced.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I have been working as an artist for years. After joining a collective by the name Title in Transgression in 2015 I started showing my work at Galleries, Museums etc. It has not been an easy journey as I have had to work at as an independent artist without gallery representation. This is in no way from a lack of galleries approaching me to represent me or a lack of interest. I was just aware of the fact that I was not ready to partner with a gallery at that stage in my career. When you are a young artist still finding their feet it becomes difficult for you to be seen outside of the institutions that represent you. It becomes difficult for spaces to understand that you are in control of your vision. So I made it my mission to stay as present as possible within the everyday business practice that is my career as an artist.

Some of the challenges I have faced are visa issues when traveling because I am an African citizen, my work being boxed into categories that feel safe and digestible for those who don’t care to understand the work. It’s also been difficult to sustain a career financially because no teaches you about how to invest your money and where to do it. i am slowly but surely expanding my portfolio but it is difficult. Finding my voice as an artist was equally difficult but it’s about believing in your inner voice. One of my biggest challenges this year was moving to LA. I have only been to countries for a few months at a time and completely relocating has been quite the adjustment for me. It’s a lonely process that requires a lot of grounding work. I found myself isolated and asking myself if this was the right decision after all. But it truly was.

I want the world to know that it really is more about the journey than a specific destination. We often chase milestones to get to certain goals in our careers and lives which I think it good for checking things off the list and getting where you need to go. Just don’t forget to look around and take it all in.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I have only been in LA for a year in a few days so as an immigrant to the city trying to find a home I have found comfort in small little nooks and crannies in really cool places. So I would definitely take them to the Arts District Downtown to this place called Botho Project Space. I would take them to a show at Carly Parker Gallery as well as Jac Forbes Gallery in Malibu. I would take them to Santa Monica Beach so we can go roller skating. I would take them to have the best coffee in LA which is Harun Coffee in Leimert Park. I would try and take them to the Academy of motion picture Museum, as well as the Getty Center. I would also take them to this non-profit library called Heavy Manners. I think I would also take them to have a picnic at Echo Park. Nothing too fancy, just art tours and Museum visits.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
This list is honestly long beyond measure! It honestly takes a village and the people who have had a hand in my success have been from past Lecturer’s and mentors from my time studying at the University of Witwatersrand. Mentors such as Rangoato Hlasane and Malusi from Keleketla! library, curator Gabi Ngcobo, Same Mdluli, Tśhegofatso Mabaso, Fillmmaker Sifiso Khanyile, my colleagues and friends, Simnikiwe Buhlungu, Specs Ndimande, Matsela Diallo Alexander, Jacquiline Forbes, Jordan Diamonde, Nick Sivakumaran

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/malebona.maphutse.art/ https://www.instagram.com/bonny_maphutse/?hl=en

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/malebona-maphutse-b7398a105/?originalSubdomain=za

Image Credits
Jordé for the images with the backdrop Sir Thido Mogul for the studio shots