Visual artist, painter, songwriter and vocalist Nana is preparing to take her artwork to Dublin, Ireland, where she is set to exhibit her work.
Speaking during a phone call interview yesterday, Nana shared details of her upcoming trip, which will mark an opportunity for her to present her visual art to an international audience.
Based in Mbabane, Nana has built her creative work across several disciplines, including visual art, music, poetry and writing.
Her work often brings these different forms together, allowing her to express stories through both sound and imagery.
Her upcoming exhibition in Dublin forms part of her continued work as a visual artist and painter. Nana creates artwork that is also available on a made-to-order basis, while continuing to pursue opportunities to showcase her work beyond Eswatini.
Nana’s creative background extends beyond painting. She is also a songwriter and vocalist, with a career that has included work in the film and live music industries. She produced her debut album in 2004, a project that earned her international acclaim and a nomination.
Music has remained an important part of her artistic journey, even as she has expanded into visual art. Nana describes her approach as one that brings together different creative forms rather than treating them as separate disciplines.
“It is quite exhilarating to create a story and merge the visual with music, resulting in a harmonious relationship between man and sound,” she said.
Her work as a poet and writer adds another dimension to her creative practice. Nana is currently writing a children’s book, continuing her interest in storytelling and creating work that can be experienced through different forms.
Her creative career has also taken her into the film industry and live performance spaces, giving her experience across several areas of the arts.
As a vocalist, she has performed on different stages and continues to take on live music engagements.
Most recently, Nana performed on the main stage at the MTN Bushfire Festival of the Arts, one of Eswatini’sprominent arts and music festivals.
Her appearance at the festival placed her music alongside performances from other artists from Eswatini and beyond.
While music remains part of her work, Nana’s current focus also includes developing her visual art and creating opportunities to exhibit it.
The Dublin exhibition will allow her to present this side of her work to audiences outside the country.
Nana’s artistic practice is also influenced by her work as a yogi. She is a yoga master and describes yoga as part of her spiritual evolvement. This aspect of her life forms part of the wider journey that informs her approach to creativity and personal expression.
Her work across music, painting, poetry and writing has allowed Nana to move between different creative spaces throughout her career.
Rather than limiting herself to one discipline, she has continued to explore different ways of telling stories and connecting with audiences.
The upcoming trip to Dublin therefore comes as part of an ongoing creative journey that has included music releases, live performances, painting and writing.
Nana remains based in Mbabane and continues to make her artwork to order. She is also available for live gigs, allowing her to continue working across both the visual and performing arts.
With her Dublin exhibition ahead, Nana is preparing to introduce another part of her creative work to an international audience, taking her paintings beyond Eswatini while continuing to build on the artistic disciplines she has developed over the years.
