(Resoborg at work)
Resoborg, is a well-established Durban-based artist, illustrator,
graphic designer and muralist, working for clients across the globe. Resoborg
has been in the art and commercial design scene for over 10 years and has made
a name for himself locally as well as globally, with his large-scale murals and
art pieces. His work is instantly recognisable with bright colours, clean lines
and subtle messages of hope and upliftment for the community. Resoborg also
focuses on commercial graphic design and illustration, having done work for a
variety of clients in various sectors of the creative industry both in South
Africa and abroad.
Resoborg was recently commissioned to paint a mural in Strasburg,
Virginia in the USA, through an artist programme called Staufferstadt Arts, a
local initiative in Strasburg, aiming to uplift its community, revitalise the
town and inspire and challenge the local youth, along with creating a unique
experience for artists to create work outside the confines of urban areas.
Staufferstadt Arts is a non-profit project formed by a handful of
passionate individuals, with the goal of creating a gallery of world-class
mural and street art against the unlikely backdrop of smalltown America. The
project is equally about presenting contemporary work in a unique setting as
well as creating a potential roadmap for reimagining rural America through the
act of building creative communities. The project selects and invites artists
from around the world to come to Strasburg to create large-scale public art. Staufferstadt
Arts prides itself on providing a uniquely supportive environment where their
work is truly impactful. In our current fractured and uncertain climate,
Staufferstadt Arts creates work that promotes dialogue, builds bridges and
highlights the universal ties that build communities both small and large.
The town of Strasburg is nestled in the countryside of Virginia, near
the Shenandoah National Park, just 75 miles west of Washington DC.
Resoborg's mural, named Sonner’s
Sonnet, is a depiction of one of the potters that used to live in the town
in the 1800's which at one stage was known as "Pot Town" because of
the large cottage ceramics industry. Antique stores are plentiful in this town
where pots from this era can easily be found. As glassware replaced this
industry, potters as a last resort began to offer unglazed pots for the buyer
to customize. Often pale in colour in comparison to the darker shades of dirty
green and red, these unglazed pots were an inspiration for the mural which is
an abstracted portrait of John Henry Sonner, a local potter. The unglazed pot
in his hands acts as a metaphor for the town and its potential as a canvas yet
to be customized. It is also a celebration of localism and the independent
craftsman; celebrating the power of individuals to shape their own future.
Coming from South Africa and facing challenges such as crime and high
unemployment, Resoborg experienced the town as close knit, friendly and
relatively safe - an almost utopian existence from an outsider's perspective.
Like any town, however, it faces its own challenges with many youth leaving the
town for bigger cities in search of work opportunities. Resoborg’s hope is that
the mural inspires the youth and the local community to dream big and shape the
town as a potter would with his art. The pot also features the "Seven
Bends" which is the famous Shenandoah river that runs through the town and
surrounding area. The uniquely-shaped river, which curves seven times, was
sculpted by a series of geological processes spanning hundreds of millions of
years. This shape on the pot in the mural represents determinism and patience
for locals to hold true in overcoming adversity and creating an impactful
existence in their town and community.
For more information on Resoborg visit www.resoborg.com
or https://resoborg.com/strasburg-mural
Direct link to the video on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/275206168
For more information on the arts organisation:
http://www.staufferstadt.org/
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