Meet OKAJ, a South African born visual multimedia artist with a passion for bold colours, quirky designs, and meaningful storytelling. His work dives into themes of mental health, addiction, psychology, spirituality, and above all growth and victory. What started as a creative escape in 2019 soon turned into a full-fledged pursuit, leading him to study Visual Multimedia Arts at the University of South Africa. Thanks to the support of the Yzerfontein Art Collective, OKAJ has had the chance to showcase his work in some incredible spaces, including ArtHaus in Sea Point, Youngblood Africa in Cape Town, and ArtB Gallery. With a unique style that’s both vibrant and thought-provoking, he continues to make his mark alongside rising and established artists alike.
Take us through your painting process from concept to completion?
OKAJ Conceptually my work generally takes form from a memory, an observation, a feeling or a need to comment on something that I deem important. I explore the topic academically, do preliminary sketches and go through possible source material. The painting process itself is generally quick, messy, chaotic and intuitive, whereas the conceptualisation takes the longest and is approached with care and mindful consideration. There is a stark contrast between conceptualisation and painting, as both processes tap into different parts of my skillset and utilises all aspects of me as a human being. I immerse myself completely, and I do not stop until the work is done. Then I do it all again.
How do you balance spontaneity and intention when working with colour?
OKAJ When it comes to colour, there’s a constant push and pull between spontaneity and intention. Spontaneous application needs intentional intervention, eventually. Each new colour I put down on the canvas, needs to be considered based on what is already there, and what will come. It is a dynamic process that beats like my heart and breathes just as I do. The colour comes and goes, I cover, I add, eventually my dance with brush and pallet satisfies my spirit, and if it aligns formally, that is when I know I’ve reached the balance.
What emotion or message do you aim to convey through colour?
OKAJ My use of colour is intended to provoke a visceral reaction in the viewer. Whether it is a positive emotion, or a sad feeling, that is entirely unique to the viewer and out of my hands. If anything, I always hope to at least awaken a sense of wonder. As a byproduct of my mental illness, colour is extremely prominent in my perception, colours shift and change, they breathe, and sometimes they have sound. Because of this, my work creates a platform for me to speak about mental illness, and for others to feel heard, seen and understood.
How do you want viewers to feel when they see your work?
OKAJ I want them to feel connected to the parts of themselves that they may have forgotten or didn’t know existed in the first place. I find art that stirs my inner realm and makes me think and feel deeply, to be successful art, regardless of aesthetics. I suppose I’d say that I wish for viewers to feel something they generally don’t feel in their everyday lives.
If you had to describe your work in three colours, what would they be and why?
OKAJ My work is blue, it comes from a place of blue. It is the lonely day, it is the mist on the ocean, it is the rain on the windowpane. My work is yellow. Not just the colour, but the feeling of the sun, the radiance of winter flames, the glow of city lights, foreign, far, and unknown. Pink is the tone in my palms, pink is the colour of the sunset clouds, pink is the colour that some flowers call home, it is a place of love. Blue is a reminder of my journey, yellow is the voice that sings of my victory, and pink is the reminder to be soft, humble and to love as much and as abundantly as my heart allows.
How do you see your use of colour evolving in the future?
OKAJ My use of colour changes as I do. The future holds my palette. I am looking forward to exploring monochrome works, black and white, to juxtapose my prominent use of colour. This will come when the time is right. I do know that I want it to continue breathing, so the colour will flow through me as my experiences do, as I read more and feel more, so will the colour on my canvas.
What advice would you give to emerging artist exploring colour in their artwork?
OKAJ Learn colour theory as soon as possible. Colour is not just visual, it is visceral. When you learn the language of colour, you can speak more fluently through your compositions. Do not be afraid of mistakes, do not be afraid of unconventional colour pairing. Create to fail, and do so until failures become successes, and you will find yourself fearless, competent and confident.
