A Return to Paradise and its People - Durban

IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING THAT IS
is perfectly representative of Durban design you’ll be
disappointed, since no single object can express the
multiplicity of perspectives that combine to produce
something that is unmistakably but intangibly Durban. And
that thing is defined more by the smell of the air and the
vibrancy and edginess of the city’s streets than by any kind
of unifying ethos.
In a country with 11 official languages and only partial
literacy, it’s not surprising that in Durban visual culture
reigns supreme. In recent years, a culture of local design
has blossomed in South Africa. This is partially due to the
fact that many local designers have received the prestige
of international recognition, but also due to a change in
the attitude of South African consumers who are finally
eschewing international designs in favour of a local idiom.
As such, local design and interior shops which used to
focus almost exclusively on imports, now showcase a
variety of locally inspired output, some of it echoing
international trends. but the bulk of it executed in a fresh
and everchanging design language.
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DESIGN
BARBER SHOP SIGNS As the nature of Durban’s streets began
to change after 1994, pavement barber shops started popping
up all over eThekwini, accompanied by often beautifully painted
BARBER SHOP SIGNS. The most recognised
exponent of this much loved genre of illustration
is BRUNO BIHIZA, a Congolese refugee who has
since taken his illustration skills to London.
SEE IT: in the centre of town
BEADWORK in Durban has evolved substantially in the last
decade, particularly as skilled artists from neighbouring countries
have filtered into Durban to sell their wares on the city’s streets.
No longer restricted to Zulu love letters and
keychains, beadworkers such as JACQUES
SENGEYA produce a large variety of beaded
objects from decorative animals to light fittings.
SEE IT: at Avonmore Centre, Greyville