Sammie Ngwenya
In conversation with local artist Sammie Ngwenya.
Hi Sammie, please tell us a little bit about yourself and your style of work.
Hello, my name is Sammie, I’m 27 and I’m an artist from Bournemouth. My work gives a platform to the mundane moments and spaces in everyday life. Whether that be a bathroom, an abandoned quarter pipe, or a flyover. My meticulous style takes on inspiration from the masters, considering light, shadows and infrastructure whilst depicting the surrounding visuals of my life and those that I’ve grown up with. This style of painting as I understand it is generally reserved for things of obvious/typical beauty like a bunch of flowers or a hilly landscape. I have a lot of fun taking that generalisation, and showing that even the most overlooked things can join them in being equally, if not, the most wonderful.
Can you give us a bit of background on your career and some of the milestones so far?
I did my foundation at AUB, and my degree in Drawing and Printmaking at UWE, Bristol. I graduated in 2018, and have been painting most days ever since. I’ve had a handful of really exciting opportunities: including a group show at OXO Tower Wharf in London, plein air painting and collaborations with the local skate scene. I find it so cool when I see people skating whilst wearing my work! I had the blessing of working alongside artist Paul Corfield for a couple of years. As his artist assistant, I completed his under-paintings, and eventually assisted him in drawing from his sketches. Until lockdown made us all have to re-evaluate, I was doing that full-time so that was a huge milestone. Nonetheless, I’ve tirelessly been continuing the work, and have my first EVER solo show lined up around early 2023.
What is your biggest inspiration?
My whole life I’ve watched both my parents WORK. Work, work, work. I’m yet to meet the person that puts in more hours than my Mum. I realise that this ‘hustle culture’ is now stronger than ever in this technological age. However, I grew up already understanding that if I wanted anything, whether that was education, dance classes, or football boots, I'd have to work for it. I’d have to work as hard as they did if not harder. The amount they worked though, to what they received, just never seemed to marry up and I could never understand that and I hated that for them.
I noticed that at a very young age so I wanted to help them and make them proud. I wanted them to not have to work two or three jobs every day. That was and is my mindset and I know I have them to thank for that ‘hustler mentality’. I know it’s frowned upon these days but it’s really all I’ve ever known.
Where is your happy place?
Interesting question. It really could be anywhere, at any given time. I’m noticeably happy when I’m going down a hill at full speed on my bike. Also when I’m painting and the music is on full volume knowing I have nothing else to do that day. Cracking jokes with the girls. These are just a few. Without sounding too self-care-y-fairy, I really think my happy place is totally in my head. When I'm super focused and in the zone, whether that’s painting, skating or if it’s spending time with the babies in the family, it’s just that feeling of ‘ahh’ or ‘woo!’ That’s my happy place.
Which lesson has been the hardest to learn?
That failing is a part of the journey. Almost nothing happens when and how you think or hope for it to happen. Not to hold on to anything too tight and be ready for things to change at any moment. Sometimes paintings get damaged out of your control. Sometimes the storm comes and blows you over and it will feel like you are starting all over again. You might sometimes feel like what’s even the point or like, you’ve lost your chance. Like, no one is begging me to do anything, it's down to you. So even when you just want to give up because it feels like child's play or no one gives a flying ****, don’t. It actually all means something and those milestones are proof of that.
What are you looking forward to?
My first solo exhibition in February 2023. The date is yet to be announced, but it will be held at ‘Flux’ in Charminster. I’m doing a super exciting series and I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t have seen a series of work like this. You can stay updated and get all the information on my Instagram or website.
Website → szngwenya.com
Instagram → @szngwenya
