Sabelo Matthews Femela, a 24 year-old South African believes he is something along the lines of a demi-god. Considering the transcendence of his juxtapositioned digital work we are compelled to agree.
“I believe I am a god, not because of what I do but because of who I am(BIBLE)” said Sabelo.
I am a 24 year old Xhosa male. Born and raised in KwaZulu Natal, Sabelo took a familiar Creative detour
“I studied Electrical Engineering in Newcastle, at Majuba College. But at first during my last year in high school I didn’t know what I was to study after my Matric…during my Engineering studies I started editing pictures using my friends phone”
It shortly after Sabelo; raised by his Mother and grandmother as the first born of three took a long hiatus from his new found passion of Design, 2 to 3 years to be exact. It wasn’t until he began a spiritual journey and attending church his path reawakened,
“The Pastor would pay for posters for conferences and revivals. I took it as a challenge and told myself I could do this and I did. My Pastor never went to the guy who made posters for him again.”
Not too long after Sabelo left Newcastle and moved to Witbank to seek new fortunes all the while pursuing his experimentation of Digital Art.
“One time I was like let me try something, and I’d change a picture’s background…I then created an Instagram account.”
Sabelo knew that he had to do something to get people’s attention, and then started editing celebrities pictures as fan art with Bonang’s…
“At first I didn’t know that what I was doing was Graphic Design up until I had done my 100th picture. I would tag people in the same field even photographer and models. Some even blocked me.”
Sabelo’s fan art has been reposted by a number of SA’s A-listers from Khanyi Mbau to David Tlale. With new found he’s headed to school to study Graphic Design, Film and Video Technology.
In closing he said “I am Grateful for the support I’ve gotten from the likes of the beautiful Khanyi Mbau, Bonang Matheba, Ayanda Thabethe, David Tlale for their support in terms of posting my work on
their Instagram pages, which drew more eyes to what I do. Most specially I would also like to thank Shirley Silebeli for being there when I was confused and defeated due to rejection from some core Photographers and Designers…the show must go on! I know I’ll change the game one day! Please keep a close eye and your ears open.”
And that we will indeed. Have a look at our Instagram this week as we turn it into Sabelo’s personal Gallery, one picture at a time.
