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The Citizen

Splash of colour, stroke of genius for Durban CBD corridors

EIGHT youngsters are highlighting their talent through murals on the walls of Monty Naicker Street, Gillespie Street, The Workshop, the City Hall and the beachfront. This is part of the Corridors of Excellence movement by the eThekwini Municipality. Nqobile Hlela, Sihle Shozi, Thokozani Nxumalo, Celimpilo Mthembu, Lindani Maduna, Nhlakanipho Ndimande, Manqoba Bhengu and Mncedisi Mkhize do not take the opportunity lightly, and are determined to put their hand forward. Nqobile Hlela, on behalf of his fellow artists, said they were grateful to embark on the mission, seeing that the project was their first substantial project. They come from different areas of Durban, and all possess skills and training in Fine Arts. 'We had to submit a proposal based on the municipality's brief. After some time we were selected. We grabbed the opportunity with both hands. It meant a lot to have our signature on the city's walls. This is not just us putting art out there, it's about inspiring our peers and the next generation in the arts space,' Hlela shared. He attributes the opportunity to undeniable talent they all possess, as well as the effort they constantly put on networking and connecting with like-minded crowds. 'For us, art is not a hobby or part-time work, we do this full-time and it's our survival. Working on such a project, and others, is a testament that arts can be a livelihood. There are many possibilities when you believe in your talent. 'What we have painted in the CBD is our ways of engaging with the locals as well as tourists, as we depicted what Durban is about, ie vibrancy. We were also hoping to evoke emotions of hope, to those who find themselves defeated by everyday circumstances. This art is therapeutic and calming,' Hlela beamed. For more from Berea Mail, follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok. Click to subscribe to our newsletter – here At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!