Siyabonga Eddie-Junior Vilakazi

Born
1993
Nationality
South African
Country
South Africa
City
Johannesburg

I create my art with the intention of expressing my unique vision and perspective on my environment, certain emotions I want to convey, and concepts I want to see come to life. It goes beyond mere documentation or commercial purposes and I focus on using the medium of fine art photography and film as a means of artistic expression. In most of my work, the emphasis is on my personal interpretation of the subject matter rather than on capturing a faithful representation of reality. I make use of various techniques; such as composition, lighting, perspective, and post-processing, to create visually compelling images and films that evoke an emotional response or convey a specific message. I look to take things that people use and see on a daily basis and by allowing the audience to view them differently through my lens. Conceptual depth is also a hallmark of my work. In some cases, I try to use symbolism without being too obvious and I also use storytelling to convey ideas or to provoke intellectual and emotional responses. My art may raise questions, challenge societal norms, explore personal narratives, or address broader social and cultural issues. I enjoy exploring different themes, concepts, and styles, often pushing the boundaries of traditional photographic and film techniques. I strive to create images and films that are visually striking, thought-provoking, and imbued with their own unique artistic voice. I always look to experiment with different genres, including landscape, portraiture, still life, abstract and conceptual photography. I also pay meticulous attention to the printing process, carefully selecting the paper, size, and overall presentation methods that best complement the vision of the body of work. My artistic practice combines technical proficiency and creative expression. It allows me to use the camera as a tool for self-expression, offering a unique visual language to communicate my ideas, emotions, and perceptions of the world around me.

 

Betelgeuse beauty - The image introduces a composition created by combining images of the Betelgeuse star. The use of the term "rolling blackouts" indicates that these images were taken under challenging circumstances, with intermittent power disruptions occurring in my country. Despite the limitations imposed by these blackouts, Imanaged to capture striking visual representations of the Betelgeuse star. This celestial subject, known for its prominent position in the Orion constellation.
Occupation
filmmaker
Address
2588 Ingwe Street
Zone 2 Diepkloof, Soweto
1862, Gauteng
Interests
abstract art
Film photography
Fine Art
video art
Digital photography
Languages
English
Biography

I’m a self-taught detail orientated photographer, artist, filmmaker, and documentarian with +-7 years of experience that varies within each field. I have developed advanced video and photography editing skills as well as knowledge of the latest software, tools and techniques. I am always eager to learn and give my all to each project I work on as I am analytical and technical in every aspect of capturing and editing while also leaving room for creativity and growth for a storyline to be cultivated.

Art is a form of expression that allows you to explore and discover new things about yourself and the world around you. It gives you the ability to be vulnerable and show your views on life and the society we live in today. Art has done that for me and more, as an introvert it allows me to showcase my skills and fully express myself through different disciplines, and it has helped me to deal with certain issues I have had in my life as I was able to let it all out through my art.

I work primarily in digital and fine art photography and videography (narrative and non-narrative videos) some of my images are digitally modified for a specific purpose in relation to the artwork. I currently create and work from anywhere I can as long as there is inspiration and proper lighting, I use my surroundings, nature and overall environment as my studio and muse.

As I continue down this path, I hope to explore more aspects of my creativity and versatility. I would like to try other mediums of art that I haven't done as yet, like painting, sculptures, performance art and sound art. This is a continuous journey as I want to learn and grasp everything I can on a daily basis, I believe that you can’t learn without making mistakes so I'm always open to trying new things and making mistakes so I can learn from them and hopefully become a better artist. I hope to inspire young kids from Soweto who also have a dream to make in life while doing something they are passionate about without the fear of being persecuted or that their dreams are not valid. I want to be a successful multi-disciplinary artist that is always looking to improve and to influence the world on a global scale.

Education
Kimberley Boys' High School
University of the Free State
Exhibitions
2023
International Group Virtual Exhibition ~ 2023 4th Edition ArtNoise 4
Make Art Gallery
Group
2023
NIGHT SKIES AND ASTRO IMAGING International Group Exhibition
LoosenArt
Group
2022
International group exhibition On Food, Conviviality and Cultures
LoosenArt
Group
2023
The business of being an artist - Choices Assorted Group Exhibition
August House
Group
Links
Media
Favorite Quote
No matter what tool you use to create, the true instrument is you