Spotlight.
Stacy Dube
INTRODUCTION
Stacy Dube is a Zimbabwe-born Fine artist of Ndebele descent. Her artwork is primarily based on her lived experiences. The places she has called home since moving to the UK, namely Glasgow, Somerset and Devon have come to influence the subject matter of her work. Her research is self-situated, dissecting subjects from the perspective of the life she lives now as well as juxtaposing that with a perspective based on her upbringing in Zimbabwe. Through her work she approaches discussions surrounding race, politics, healing, celebration of culture and of self. She works mainly with acrylics and pens on a variety of surfaces. The artists love of Colour and music also shape her artistic practice. In her most recent paintings using art as a healing medium has been the artists goal, in these paintings Dube uses the canvas as a safe space to vent, process, and discover. In the past her work has been focused more around using portraiture as a mode of communication and documentation.
INTERVIEW
How did you get into your artistic field? What initially inspired you?
I’ve always been around music my whole life. I remember when I was little my mum used to tell me that she would always play Micheal Jackson for me even when I was inside her tummy. So realistically my ears have never stopped tuning in to the frequency of music therefore it’s never been something that I’ve figured out I enjoy it’s just something I’ve always loved and done.
What themes do you tend to interrogate in your work?
Typically my work is based on my own lived experiences and the things that impact me in my current life. Through my work I explore themes such as, race, politics, mental health, healing and celebration of self. The self situated nature of my practice is deliberate; I create mostly from my own perspective because it helps me stay connected with the work ensuring that I can be a reliable, authentic narrator.
I would describe my practice as multidisciplinary in nature; employing the use of media such as paint, various surface printing methods, writing and spoken word.
What is your favourite project you’ve ever worked on and why?
My project “Healing” was the final body of work I created whilst in university; it is my favorite so far because it was my most transformative and documented project. I was intensely involved in the work both physically and mentally. I explored scale in its extremes, and worked in contrasting styles. The project was an honest representation of how my mind works. It was composed of a collection of large scale paintings, a small sketchbook series as well as a collection of writings in the form of diary entries and essays.
The project became of huge benefit to my mental health and overall confidence at the time. I was going through a lot mentally due to my struggles with anxiety and depression. Through my art I could motivate myself to communicate, be present, be bold, find joy and work through what I was experiencing.
What advice would you have for creatives of colour looking to get into music?
You will have to be your biggest advocate. Although it can be difficult, be unapologetic about your practice and yourself as a person. Take pride in yourself and your craft; then you can join or form communities with people who are like minded. By actively participating in them, you will have a safe space to ask questions and seek help. You never know what skills or knowledge the next person may possess. Don't be afraid to be wrong and to learn from others, that being said, don't be afraid to correct people either; art is about conversation and your input has so much power. Collaboration can be key to a more healthy and balanced approach to working. Having more hands to share the load and a clearer headspace to expand the art further, can do wonders for your own artistic development.
What are you currently working on?
Currently im working on a new collection of paintings and surface print designs that i’d like to print on to fabric and other materials in the future. I am also in the process of gathering together my graphic smaller works and turning them into repeat surface pattern designs. My goal is to have a separate portfolio for this side of my artistic practice. Although it is linked to my main practice, there are drastic differences in the aesthetic. This is because these smaller scale works require a different style of creating; despite being free in movement, my making process feels more intentional and controlled. I want to honor the different identities of the work in their own way.