THE AFRICAN AESTHETIC

East African spices. Image from Akhaya Cookery School.

I am drawn to the African aesthetic,

whether in architecture,

contemporary art and craft,

interior design,

or fashion.

I am stirred by the colours,

the organic textures, shapes and patterns,

the earthiness

and the African Make-Do perspective.

This is such a beautiful image of African telephone wire baskets but I can't find the source. If the photographer come's across this post I would love to give him/her credit.

"Africa is great at improvisation, at making

something astonishing from

whatever is at hand.

It does not need expensive materials.

Africa has a genius for recycling.

It has taught me to discard nothing

as I can find a use for it later.

"African Make-Do" is the name

I have given this aesthetic." - Andrew Verster, Artist

Path to Peace Baskets. Read the story at this wonderful blog, here.

"It's the startling use of colour that

we get so right. You see fearless

combinations because there are no rules,

even though we do have cultural traditions.

Sometimes the beauty of African colour can make

you uncomfortable - and yet stimulated."

- Karen Roos, Editor, Elle Decoration South Africa

Yoruba Quilt from Anthropologie

"It inspires with its colors.

The tones may be subtle,

as if bleached

by the intense heat, or the colours

supersaturated like an explosion

of wild flowers in twilight.

The real beauty is how these colours go together...."

- Quotations from the book Africanismo

Alan Donovans house in Kenya.

Kuba Shoulder Bag. See more bags using African textiles here.

Interior Designer, Aline Matsika uses African accents in many of her interiors. See Aline's website here.

Kuba textiles add an exciting element to interior design. I particularly like the muted Kuba (Tcaka) upholstery and the shoowa cushion above.

Corrugated iron frames.

Yvonne O'Brien Interior Design.

Designer, Marzia Chierichetti' s retreat in Kenya. 

Mango wood and aliminium bowls by Marzia Chierichetti.

Aline Matsika Interiors.

Aline Masika Interiors.

Aline Matsika Interiors.

HOT AFRO

The book I've been waiting for has arrived at last. Hot Afro by Craig Fraser .... Hot off the press! This book is packed with distinctly South African energy and flavour. Interiors decorated by some of South Africa's most innovative and creative individuals.

A corner of the studio in the Trickett home.

The Trickett homestead is "defined by its delightfully haphazard character, where roomscapes divulge the couple's fascination with the flotsam and jetsam of various eras, cultures and design, and artistic and scientific disciplines."

The 70-something-year-old Johannesburg home of Gerhard Swart and Anthony Harris.

I was drawn to the home of Gerhard Swart and Anthony Harris, two wildly wacky ceramic artists I have already mentioned, here. Not surprising since they too are voracious magpies who continually need to add to their vaste collections.

"The interior is defined by a sort of satorial madness and Renaissance scientists' curiosity that is suggestive of a Wunderkammer...."


"The veranda is an almost year round place to meet, relax, entertain or even to work on ideas."


"Comfortable furniture, an eating area, a collection of interiors magazines and ornate lighting are evidence that this area is considered as much a room as any inside the house."


Work related paraphernalia and stationery in the home of design consultant Laureen Rossouw


Kitchen in the home of editor and style icon Karen Roos


The Free State home of Werner and Philippa du Toit was once a dilapidated barnlike building used as a church by missionaries.



One of my favourite images in the book is this display of some of Immie Mostert's collections.


As Craig Fraser points out these homes are not decorated to impress or follow fashion trends. "Rather, they are canvasses that reflect the consciousness of those who live in them; they're honest and idiosyncratic spaces that are, above all, forged from the heart."