From the Fabric of the Soul

Young, still in varsity and skilled in journalism, Esona Poyo and Neti Ramatlama found it in their HeArts to pioneer the online art publication around the block. The two friends and co-workers are launching their online magazine, HeArt Magazine, on 25 March 2017. Nthabiseng Mafata took some time to talk to these ladies about their journey…

THE BIRTH OF HeArt MAGAZINE

According to Poyo, the Editor-in-Chief of HeArt, exploitation and creative differences seem to be a problem in the Free State media industry. She decided that it was enough with the exploitation and it was time for them to start their own publication. During the December holidays, Poyo called Ramatlama about this brilliant idea because she knows her to have “good communication skills” as she puts it and that’s how HeArt came to be. “On the 22nd of January, during the Free State Art Fusion, Black Sunday, we started going public about HeArt Magazine… mainly to put ourselves under pressure to start working.” said Ramatlama, the Sub-Editor of HeArt.

THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE IN A MAG

“HeArt is a publication that seeks to make the public aware that in anything we do or we are as humans there is art.” said Ramatlama. She continues to tell us that this magazine is an exchange of culture and a place where one can embrace their individuality. “I think we’re at a time where people are defining themselves, and it doesn’t matter how.” said she. The ladies explained to us that what makes the magazine different from other magazines is the “human experience” it gives its public. “Why not have a magazine that does not dilute people. With HeArt we say, there ain’t no right or wrong, we are all art… let’s just rub off each other, let’s share.” said Ramatlama.

FEARS OF UNDRESSING IN PUBLIC

With the lack of resources (money being the main), to these ladies, working on the magazine has been a beautiful, challenging yet a passion driven experience. “As much as HeArt still feels like an idea to me, working with people who believe and are passionate about media is what keeps us going.” affirms Poyo. Walking on foot to go cover stories on rainy days and having no money to pay the people who work with them are some of the challenges that HeArt magazine is facing for now, but the ladies are still standing unshaken to bring about change to the Free State media industry and being honest about it or we could call it “undressing in public” as Ramatlama would say it. “It’s one of the scariest things, but at the same time you’re like ‘I wouldn’t do anything else’.” explained she. A challenge that most, if not all of us face in life is entirely being ourselves. Being judged and intimidated by others could be some of the obstacles that keep us from starting new things and showing our creativity, but Poyo and Ramatlama seem to be pushing against this wind with all their might. “People don’t like seeing people accepting themselves and that takes away from our individuality as people and with HeArt, we seek to challenge this notion.” said Poyo.

BEING A STUDENT VS BEING A PIONEER

Starting something from scratch while learning how to do it is a risk, mainly because one doesn’t know how far their idea will go, will your client trust you with their money due to your lack of experience? “We sometimes ask ourselves if we should mention that we’re still students when we approach potential sponsors, do we add that to a proposal, do they wanna know that? But at the same time that’s who we are, and why does it have to take away from the fact that we are skilled at what we do?” asked Ramatlama. HeArt Magazine, according to the two ladies, is a magazine that has sections that were never done, with no “structure” and limitations. “People will always want to tell you ‘this is not how it’s done’ without even understanding your plans and the goals you want to achieve. This is what we have and can bring to the table, there is no need to try to intimidate us” said Poyo. The HeArt Magazine team is made out of students from all multimedia fields of study, be it photography, marketing or journalism and this speaks to development and questions the public’s acceptance of new ideas and the creativity in it. “We are pieces of a bigger something and I think it’s something that’s bigger than us, even. I mean, who doesn’t get nervous?” said Ramatlama. Poyo explained that in most cases when one realizes that what they are doing is new, they just wanna go back to their shell because they fear their capabilities, which she called “Achievemephobia”. “It’s exciting to be seen as your brand and that is the greatest achievement so far” said Poyo.

THE NOTION “LOCAL ART” IS LIMITING

Kendrick Lamar also mentioned it in one of his songs, ‘Money Trees’… “Your hood is a pot of gold”, it’s a place where you learn everything about life, your culture and the art in it (self-expression). According to HeArt Magazine, the term ‘local’ is only geographic but the greatness in art and culture can be everywhere in the world. “The idea is, Art is not local and we should stop calling ourselves local artists. Obviously when we sell ideas, we use words like ‘local artists’ but that is limiting our people because art transcends borders” affirms Ramatlama. Among some of the great artists that HeArt is featuring in their first issues (to mention a few) are poets like Kwena Peu, the stylish rapper Cadastrofik, Xolani Mkweta from X-Arts and Mo Matli from Mokie Photography, who is currently in Johannesburg for a one year multimedia internship with Umuzi Photo Club. “Basically HeArt is publicising great art found in the Free State. The art that can be great everywhere in the world.” said Ramatlama.