Trevor Stuurman
"As Africans, our greatest wealth is not to be found in our mineral wealth but in our selves. Our culture, our way of life. In our greatest understanding of self. My purpose is to share that with the world." At 26 years Tevor stuurman, is an award winning contemporary multimedia visual artist, showcasing the best of African Art and Style to the works. As a seasoned explorer, he draws inspiration from his overseas sojourns: “The more I leave home, the more I realise the power and currency that home has. I think that in turn makes me a better storyteller because I am able to find pieces of home wherever I go and then create tangible products”. This strong sense of identity inspired him to host his first solo exhibition entitled “home”, a love letter to the Himba women of Nambia, which enjoyed a successful run at the Hazard Gallery in Johannesburg. Subsequently, Trevor has exhibited in a group exhibition at digitalia; the art and economy of ideas in san francisco at the museum of the african diaspora.
A Peek Into Stuurman's world
I think what the international community finds so appealing about Trevor is the artistic virtuoso he demonstrates at such a young age. Flipping through his impressive portfolio, his photography has captured Obama's cool essence. The black and white portrait series shot on a basketball court, with its mid-ISOs and blurred images, added to Obama's approachable and effortless appeal. Contrast this down to earth narrative with his high-end editorial shots in his collaboration with Vogue. In this editorial, he sought to capture the "afro-punk" eccentrism emerging among African youth.
Our personal favourite would be his SUN MET project. If Andy Warhol's pop art and Juco photography had a baby, it'd be Trevor Sturman's SUN MET collect. The pop inspired series puts a fresh retro perspective on the African Gele (Hair Tie); almost seems like we could wear our parents hair ties to prom. This collection shows just how versatile African Art and Culture can be, to educate, permeate and inspire