East London

Sango Filita’s Artist statement

Title: EMonti (East London)

This body of work is inspired by the time I spent in East London, both as a student and as an artist. During my studies, I was assigned to create landscapes for painting  Eastern Beach. This experience was particularly fascinating because landscapes were not my favourite subject, I used to enjoy doing portraits much more. However, as part of my art degree, I had to step out of my comfort zone and embrace this challenge. One of the hardest parts was capturing the landscape itself- the sand, the waves, and the beautiful coastal colours. At the time, I wasn’t focused on the beauty of the city but was nervous about whether my work would turn out well. Fortunately, my lecturer was impressed, and that moment sparked a new interest in landscapes. I began to appreciate capturing scenes from my village too, even though it had no sea. I made sure to include all the interesting elements in my work. After moving from East London to Pretoria for many years, I never thought I would return. This time, without the pressure of deadlines or assignments, I chose to revisit East London for research on public art. I challenged myself again to paint landscapes purely for the joy of capturing the day, the vibrant colours, and the natural beauty. East London and its Eastern Beach are truly beautiful places, and it is always a pleasure and an exciting experience to be around this city, enjoying its fresh coastal breeze.