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My name is Minenhle Siphesihle Ntuli and I am a Jnr. Arc hitect and emerging creative from the city of Durban. On any day I would gladly confess that I am an avid votar y of the work by visual artist, Li Joshua. As a creative I am a g reat f an of identity, meaning and detail, which are all elements that I deem to be present in X Y LO N 10 0 0 ’s a r t i s t r y. The creative sector, like any indus tr y, is ver y com pe titive t hus it becomes imperative that one obtains a sense of identity and individualism that helps them to standout and be relevant. From where I stand Li Joshua has achieved these things with his attention to detail and consistency in using specific elements that make the work memorable and identifiable. One of the elements of his work that stand out for me, as a typography fan, is the consistent, neat and clean font. I personally feel it’s so ef fective and fitting that I just had to drop a comment on Instagram and ask for its name. Establishing an identity seems to not have bottled up the style of work as it continues to be neoteric in the approach, finding an almost perfect balance between having an identity and still having no restricting set of rules. I have great respect for minimal artists as they burden themselves with a job of stripping all that is futile and keeping t he necessar y, and relevant elements to communicat e t heir concepts/ideas. From the monochromatic minimalism to the introduction of daring colours ever y now and then, this guy’s work remains some that I am always on the lookout for as I search daily for inspiration as an upcoming creative myself. - Minenhle Dust Sphe Ntuli
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A Li Joshua Publication Suppor ted by DISPARATE Online Magazine in conjunction wit h The Blvc k Book Project D i g i t a l l y p u b l i s h e d i n S o u t h A f r i c a i n 2 016 Copyright Š Li Joshua All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, sorted in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without prior permission in writing from the publisher. All ar twork created by ar tist unless stated and credited otherwise, pertaining to isolated visual elements used in the nature of visual arts. P u b l i s h e d i n S o u t h A f r i c a by D I S PA R AT E S T U D I O S f o r L i J o s h u a A K A Xy l o n 10 0 0 @XYLON1000 disparate.co.za
Being creative has always been an instinctual thing for me. Having to compile and curate the following collection of my work is probably the only time I’ve been able to be introspective with my creative processes. I’m glad I did. A huge thank you to the many people who have inspired, influenced and collaborated with me on this project. Yo u r p a s s i o n a n d e n t h u s i a s m f o r t h e love of ideas will continue to fuel me until the end of days. The images showcased on the following pages are a collection of my creative works within the visual communicative sphere of male fashion. Enjoy. -Li Joshua A K A X Y LO N 10 0 0 .
SPREAD: MAN ON FIRE, ARCHIVE #4_073 MODEL: KYLE EDDY, PORTFOLIO
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SPREAD: OOTD ARCHIVE #7_034 MODEL: RUAL SANTOS, TEST SHOOT B
THIS PAGE: PORTRAIT ARCHIVE #6_064 MODEL: KAELIN HERCULES, TEST SHOOT A
I don’t want to sound too cliché and say life is my sole inspiration, but in a way it really is. I am truly inspired by people: their faces in spaces and places to be exact. For me, each person is a character waiting to be captured, an individual inhabiting a persona that reflects a certain facet of who they are, or who they might be. The mutual space of documentation we share as artist and subject is truly a magical one.
To w i t n e s s t h e t ra n s f o r m a t i o n o f a n i n d i v i d u a l , eve n f o r a f ew hours (or however long a photo shoot might take) triggers ideas and gets my neurons firing. For me it’s about an idea personified. I know there are some that might say these images aren’t fashion, let alone male fashion. I’m not saying they’re wrong. Fashion, in t he g enre of pho tog raphy, is a comfor t able one for me. It ’s a land of make believe, where we can dress up a girl to be a boy or a thug to be a gentleman and so forth. Am I a liar for doing so? No. I’m an artist. I use lies to exercise truths.
In the grand scheme of things, I feel that male fashion isn’t completely unpackaged on a local Durban level. Maybe it’s the lack of menswear being designed in Durban? I’m not entirely sure. I do find it an exciting genre to play around with. Even t hough t his is, in a way, my 1s t att em p t, it ’s a g enre t hat I look for ward to exploring fur t her, especially in an editorial sense. O n e t h i n g I a m c e r t a i n o f i s t h a t i n a c o l l e c t i v e e f f o r t t h e 0 31 has potential to be a major fashion influence.
SPREAD: DISPARATE MAG ISSUE 4, ARCHIVE #3_022 MODEL: CHAD BRISSETT, BTS PORTRAIT
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SPREAD: COLLECTION ACCESSORIES SHOOT, ARCHIVE #7_070 MODEL: DELON QAID LEONARD
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SPREAD: PORTRAIT, PORTFOLIO SHOOT ARCHIVE #6_022 MODEL: AL AIN FIRMIN
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SPREAD: COLLECTION COVER SHOOT, ARCHIVE #6_001 MODEL: CHAD KOEKEMOER
SPREAD: TALES OF AN URBAN BOY, ARCHIVE #8_001 MODEL: KYLE EDDY
I began my formal artistic training studying photography at the D u r b a n U n i ve rs i t y o f Te c h n o l o g y ( D U T ) . I wa s yo u n g , u n d e c i d e d a n d h a d wa y t o o m u c h g o i n g o n i n my h e a d t o t h i n k l o g i c a l l y. As time passed I realized that a photograph was never the beginning and the end for me, I always had intention for ever y photograph that I captured. I wanted to slap some typography on it for some indie band’s album ar t, or impose it in a posta p o c a l y p t i c c i t y. B e t t e r ye t , I wa n t e d t o c ove r a b u i l d i n g i n t h e m i d d l e o f We s t S t re e t w i t h a p h o t o , s o I m ove d o n ( N B . L i z a , I didn’t say dropped out :D ). Evolving into the world of graphic design seemed like the right move. I never looked back and fed off the newfound creative confidence I was given.
The most important creative lessons I acquired as a graphic designer were the following: •Concept is king •Keep it simple stupid •Rules are malleable •Never stop playing.
I can confidently say that it’s a set of criteria I’ve always weighed a final piece against. Especially the rule about playing! I don’t want to just click a shutter; I love getting my h a n d s d i r t y. I wa n t t o h e l p w i t h t h e s t y l i n g , s o u rc i n g t h e reference, better yet let me help you design the garment. The constant creative fluidity makes me more confident with each shoot. The greatest satisfaction for me is seeing a concept come to life. From a simple portrait being captured, to a shoot that defies the rules of physics, the post process is where I have the most fun. It’s where impossible is nothing and all sentiments of logic are of ten questioned. That’s what visual ar t is for me, creating and composing a picture that will burn in your memor y until you see the next one.
SPREAD: TALES OF AN URBAN BOY, ARCHIVE #8_002005 MODEL: KYLE EDDY
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SPREAD: PORTRAIT, PORTFOLIO SHOOT ARCHIVE #6_038041 MODEL: AL AIN FIRMIN
SPREAD: A BIG BLUR OF BLUE, ARCHIVE #5_032 MODEL: KAELIN HERCULES, PORTFOLIO
THIS PAGE PORTRAIT, TEST SHOOT ARCHIVE #8_043 MODEL: YOSHEN NAIR OPPOSITE PAGE DISPARATE ISSUE 5 COVER SHOOT ARCHIVE #4_073 MODEL: MICHEAL DOVE
THIS PAGE AVANTCRAIG, TEST SHOOT ARCHIVE #2_062 MODEL: CRAIG MAL AN OPPOSITE PAGE DISPARATE ISSUE 8 COVER SHOOT ARCHIVE #9_043 MODEL: ROBBIE MULLER ST YLING AND POST EDIT: LI JOSHUA , YOSHEN NAIR MAKE UP: NOMBUSO NGCOBO IMAGE: JEROME STOFFELS, LI JOSHUA
SPREAD: LWANSTA FOR NORMVL PROMO ART, ARCHIVE #2_027028 MODEL: LWANSTA NKANYUZA FOR HYPE MAG SA .
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THIS PAGE: VISUAL PL AY, ARCHIVE #6_029 MODEL: CHAD KOEKEMOER OPPOSITE PAGE: VISUAL PL AY, ARCHIVE #6_021 MODEL: SANELE BALINTABA
SPREAD: VISUAL PL AY, SHAPE AND FORM ARCHIVE #6_036 MODEL: CHAD KOEKEMOER, JETHRO KIRTON FOR DISPARATE MAG ISSUE 5 PRINT BY: PINMIG
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THIS PAGE: DEFACE PT-1 ARCHIVE #5_081 MODEL: REECE OGLE
I could probably write you a lengthy list of the various artists that have inspired me over time. If there is one ar tist I keep coming back to, and am in constant admiration of, it’s Nick Knight. There’s something about his vision and braver y in executing that vision that excites me. I find myself having many a “what would Nick do?” moment. Maybe I should put that on a t-shirt and tag him in an Instagram post. At the root o f t h a t a d m i ra t i o n i s a s e n s e o f t h e ex t ra o rd i n a r y. H ow c a n I, via a visual piece, creat e a sense of mys t er y, allure, even unsettlement? It’s an aesthetic I’ve tried my best to practice over the years. I want to create work that evokes emotion, ignites opinions and ultimately creates change.
I’m not tr ying to bring about world peace or whatever, I just want people to go beyond a mindset of “oh that’s a pretty picture” but whether I’ve done that is yet to be confirmed. I don’t think I have, but the notion of working towards that goal is what keeps me creating.
Over time I’ve developed my own tips and tricks. I don’t feel I’m a traditional photographer by any sense of the title, which is why I opt for the title of visual ar tist instead. Labels make me uncomfortable, especially when it comes to creative works. I understand why they exist, and that they bring understanding by compartmentalization. I mean we are, by human programming, designed to put things in to boxes and label them. Perhaps I’ve been creating a new box. Is it too arrogant to state such a thing?
THIS PAGE: DEFACE PT-2 ARCHIVE #7_057 MODEL: KYLE EDDY OPPOSITE PAGE: DEFACE PT-3 ARCHIVE #7_073 MODEL: KAELIN HERCULES
THIS PAGE: DISPARATE MAG COVER SHOOT ISSUE 7 ARCHIVE #5_093 MODEL: JAROD MASON OPPOSITE PAGE: DISPARATE MAG POSTER SHOOT ISSUE 5 ARCHIVE #4_086 MODEL: ERIC STEENKAMP
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SPREAD: BIG GIRLS DON’T CRY, FASHION FEATURE ARCHIVE #1_037 MODEL: TARYN KETTLE ST YLING: LI JOSHUA HAIR AND MAKE UP: KIM JOSHUA
SPREAD: BIG GIRLS DON’T CRY, FASHION FEATURE ARCHIVE #1_041046 MODEL: TARYN KETTLE ST YLING: LI JOSHUA HAIR AND MAKE UP: KIM JOSHUA
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MOMENTS - KYLE AND KREE METH
THANK YOU Yo s h e n N a i r, f o r y o u r c o n t i n u o u s s u p p o r t a n d l o g i c a l r e f i n e m e n t o f m y c r e a t i v e w o r k , I a m b l e s s e d t o h a ve s u c h s k i l l s by my s i d e . Ky l e M e t h f o r ke e p i n g m e g ro u n d e d and challenging me, even when no one else has dared to. Jessica van Rensburg for crossing my T’s and dotting my I’s, I am so grateful for having access to your sound mind and ear. Prunelle Aman for being an amazing soundboard and suppor t system when I need it most. Karin Pillay for being the Goddess you are and my all round m u s e . Ta r y n Ke t t l e f o r c o n s t a n t l y re m i n d i n g m e t o e s c a p e f ro m t h e n o r m . Ke r r y K i rs t e n for “getting me” and finishing my sentences when it’s time to discuss fashion. Arushka Saligram for making me an “ef fective” graphic designer ;) Paul Reichle for always being in my corner and allowing me to bug you at the most inconvenient times - one day I will be as good as you! M y D I S PA R AT E M a g f a m i l y – A n e l e Ts h a b a l a l a , H e l o i s e H u n t e r M a r s h a l l , Ly d i a S m e rd o n D u n n , M a y u r i S a n i c h u r, M a r k Ly n e , D a y n e We l l b e l ove d , A my N a i d o o , C ra i g M a l a n . Yo u g u y s a r e s o m e o f t h e m o s t i n f l u e n t i a l a n d c r e a t i v e p e o p l e I h a v e t h e honour of calling friends and for that I am thankful. Nivesh Rawatlal for your infectious sense of rebellion and reminding me that what I do is a gif t wor t h living for. Osmosis Liza, Paulo Menezes, Dominique Wilson, Ernest van der Mer we, Kay Smar t, Nombuso Ngcobo and Jerome Stof fels for your creative council, I am truly grateful. All the models who have shown inspirational enthusiasm in being a part of this c o l l e c t i o n : Ky l e E d d y, C h a d Ko e ke m o e r, Ka e l i n H e rc u l e s , A l a i n a n d J e a n - l u c F i r m i n , Ru a l S a n t o s , Ky l e M e t h , S a n e l e B a l i n t a b a , C h a d a n d Ke e l e n B r i s s e t t , Ro b b i e M u l l e r, Dean Smith, Delon Qaid Leonard, Reece Ogle, Lwansta Nkanyuza, Michel Dove, Eric S t e e n ka m p , J a ro d M a s o n . We h a ve f o r m e d c re a t i ve re l a t i o n s h i p s t h a t I a p p re c i a t e t o the fullest and this project would not have been possible without you. The Ar tists and the City of Durban, South Africa. Keep on keeping on. My Family for whom I have nothing but love. Thank you for being so accommodating of me and what I do, even if I speak like a crazy person most of the time. A n d l a s t l y b u t c e r t a i n l y n o t l e a s t , K r e e M a t t h e w M e t h . Yo u m i g h t b e t o o y o u n g r i g h t now to understand, that it is you who has inspired me to take the leap and bring this project to life. Who knew I could feel as much for a single human being as I do for you. I have hopes that you are able to look back and be proud of what I have created. God bless you all.