Koketso Riba
Nominee's Province:
Gauteng
Age:
28
Project Name/Description:
Visual Artist
There are times when art takes, and there are times when art gives. When he lost his hearing at the age of eleven, Koketso Riba could have easily fallen into despair had art not given him a fresh purpose. Riba’s hearing loss adversely affected his interpersonal skills and self-confidence. He then found art as a breakthrough from his disability and managed to accept the sudden changes in his life. While studying towards a BSc degree, Riba met like-minded creatives and started creating with them, gaining exposure for his work. As he sold his custom artwork to students, he quickly realised that his art served as a connection between him and his audience. In 2018, Riba came in third place at the EDHE roadshow competition. His first artwork has also been published on the front page of the University of Limpopo’s newsletter, and he was selected to paint public murals in the Capricorn district. Moreover, Riba was invited to contribute towards an anti-bullying campaign exhibition at the Polokwane Art Museum and was also commissioned to create art for the Redbull Dance Your Style Tour. “I feel like there’s no development, particularly the visual arts,” remarks Riba, adding that visual artists in rural areas are often overlooked. He calls for private-public partnerships to develop visual art with the same resources given to other art forms, such as music.
