Kultura Kreatives started with the idea that we were finding difficulties connecting with creatives that actually genuinely interested us. Social media dynamics have a heavy focus on the quickest and easiest post to drive interactions, instead of pure genuine discovery. We were shuffling through too many irrelevant videos and shopping ads, when really what we wanted was to see more art, more culture.
We’re using our platform to help bring a spotlight to creatives who need help breaking through that wall of exposure.
Follow us every week for new artistic endeavors.
Week of April 21st, 2021
Akissi Nzambi
We’ve had the pleasure of connecting with Akissi, who’s currently situated in Spain. Though our time differences, we’ve had good fortune to make this work. We’re glad Akissi could join the Kultura Kreatives movement.
We were especially moved by Akissi’s constant self-discovery, and her way of translating her research of tribal art, folklore, and mythology into collage works. Akissi is influenced by Henri Matisse, and the evidence can be seen in certain nuances of her own unique artistic expressions.
We highly encourage you to explore her pages that are linked below to discover more of her illustrations and collages that are varied in contexts.
Read on for the full interview with Akissi.
The Lady and the Unicorn (2017), Akissi Nzambi
Send His Love to Me (2019), Akissi Nzambi
An Interview with Akissi Nzambi
with Jeanette González
How long have you been working on your craft?
“Five or six years. I’ve been drawing all my life, but it’s taken me a while to get serious about it.”
What do you feel the purpose of your work is?
“My work is fundamentally a dissemination tool. It allows me to share the things I love/ am interested in (ethnography, mythology, history, folklore, music) with others. But I also use it as a vehicle for inclusivity and representation. Growing up, it was hard for me to find honest and realistic portrayals of BIPOC in the media/art I had access to. So as an adult I’ve sought to create them myself.”
Who is the audience you're trying to reach with your work?
“Everyone!”
What has working through and discovering this means-of-art meant for you?
“Creatively speaking, it has allowed me to develop my full potential. I enjoy working in other media well enough, but collage has put me on a different level altogether. I have more control over what I’m doing and at the same time a lot more freedom to expand in different directions. My problem-solving and drawing skills have also improved.”
In regards to your craft, what was the last thing that you were excited about?
“Lately I’ve been leaning more towards experimentation and getting out of my comfort zone. My current obsessions are digital collage and working with found objects. Discovering new media is always exciting!”
What resources do you use to help improve your artistic skills?
“Life drawing, other people’s art, daily life experiences, books, films, tv shows…”
What's your favorite piece you've created so far?
“A small collage entitled “The Ghost Rider”. It features a character from a novel by Albanian writer Ismail Kadare. I love its design and dynamism, and the mysterious vibe it has.”
You're sketching out an idea, and your pencil breaks...you then realize you haven't bought any new pencils in a long time, and that was your last one. What do you do next?
“I finish the sketch with a black ballpoint pen. I do most of my sketching with pens anyway!”
The Death of Lumaluma (2018), Akissi Nzambi