Nanda Soobben honoured by Heritage Awards

Nanda Soobben has added much to the cultural life of South Africa, writes Peter Machen

When I meet Heritage Award recipient Nanda Soobben at his Centre for Fine Art, Animation and Design, he is sitting at a desk in the foyer of the school. It is from this desk, which in most other such institutions would be occupied by a receptionist, that Soobben produces his daily political cartoons, which have over the years appeared in the pages of many of this country's newspapers, as well as being syndicated around the world. And as I talk to him, Soobben's position at that front desk, rather than in a fancy, private office, comes to signify much about his approach to life, art, business and education. It is an approach that, despite the legacy of apartheid and its impact on Soobben's life, has gradually been reaping rewards for him in recent years. He has been internationally recognised for his hard-hitting satirical cartoons, winning many awards, most recently Vodacom Journalist of the Year in the cartoon category. And the education of all these young minds at his school is clearly also a reward in itself.
Because while Soobben has blazed a trail for black cartoonists in contemporary South Africa, in the process providing a bitingly insightful analysis of post-apartheid South Africa, he is also opening the doors for young new South African design talent with his school which opened in 1994. The Centre is one of the only places that offers an integrated Fine Art and Graphic Design Diploma as well as a Higher Diploma in Animation, and through the school, Soobben is generating a conscious new breed of graphic designers and artists.
He shows me around the school, which despite the absence of 21st century sheen, is an extremely well resourced education centre that puts most other design schools to shame. There is a constant buzz of activity, although most of the students are not in the building but doing work experience at firms, an important element of Soobben's approach to training young minds. He shows me a reel of animated shorts produced by his students. The shorts are all very different, but what they have in common is a sharp sense of commentary and a wildy off-the-wall approach, something that has no doubt filtered down from the front desk.
But despite his success, Nanda Soobben remains one of Durban's most unsung talents. As a young man, he was a gifted artist and graphic designer, but like many black creative people under apartheid, he was forced into exile until the early '90s, as there was no space in the old South Africa for dissident creative expression and graphic design was a “whites-only” occupation. And even today, because of the legacy of apartheid, Soobben remains marginalised to an extent. He compares Zapiro and himself to Gary Player and Papwa Sewgolum. Which is not say that Zapiro endorses the status quo as Player did, but that his success, relative to Soobben, is in some ways about his whiteness and a white-owned media.
It is appropriate that Soobben has been recognised by the Heritage Awards. The legacy that he has built is substantial. His collected body of cartoons reflects a national diary of the past two and a half decades, his school is an important cog in the national creative engine of South Africa, and his international presence has helped teach the world a little more about South Africa. And, in another example of his ongoing desire to encourage courage and individuality, Soobben has even set up his own small awards ceremony, the TLTL (Too Little Too Late) Awards, which are given to individuals who contribute unselfishly to the community without the recognition they deserve.
But most importantly, Soobben, along with a handful of other South African cartoonists, continues to help ensure that the space for dissent in South Africa remains available to all of us.

The Heritage Awards is a high-profile annual event which sees six phenomenal South Africans honoured for their contribution towards the preservation and promotion of South African heritage and culture. The other five awardees are Johnny Clegg, Bheki Mseleku, Noria Mabasa, Jay Pather and Alfred Nokwe. The awards ceremony took place on Saturday 19 September at at the ICC Durban at a glittering function.
More about the awards: http://www.southafricablog.co.za/archives/heritage-awards-2009/

Graphic Designer Wanted

GRAPHIC DESIGNER NEEDED
Company in Edenvale, Johannesburg East needs designer 2 prepare artwork 4 pamphlets, media ads and up date website. Salary R6,000 p/m.
Submit CV to: 0866558639

Be screened at Design Indaba Expo 2010

All South African filmmakers, students and hobbyists are invited to submit their short films, music videos and animations for screening at the 2010 Design Indaba Expo.

The curated film festival is open for viewing by all Design Indaba Expo visitors, from 26 to 28 February 2010, and is screened between the fashion shows at the fashion arena.

Submissions must be less that 12 minutes in length and need to be in mini dv or high resolution QuickTime (uncompressed or pal). There is no fee for participation.

Submission deadline: 31 October 2009

For more information and submissions please contact Kim Terblanche on 021 465 9966.

Or visit www.interactiveafrica.com for more.

Web Designer Wanted

CFAD graduate Tyron Love of Fire Tree Design is looking to employ a web designer. Follow the bizcommunity link below for more information.
http://www.bizcommunity.com/Job/196/12/100872.html

Animated Advert Bootcamp

7th September to 18th September 09

This year CFAD is introducing an Animated Advert Bootcamp. This is a compulsory activity for all students. The Bootcamp will run over two weeks, starting the 7th September 2009, ending 18th September 2009. Each year the Final Year students at CFAD are required to complete a Public Service Announcement Advert as part of their diploma programme and are also encouraged to enter their PSA’s in the very popular, Vuka Competition.

The Vuka Competition encourages students to design and produce new adverts every year to help make the public aware of serious issues such as Alcohol Abuse, HIV and various charitable causes. The winning team of the Vuka Competition gets their advert flighted on DSTV and M-Net. Prize money will also be awarded to the winning team for their winning advert. Besides entering the best PSA’s into the Vuka Competition, CFAD will screen the best PSA’s at the RED EYE and Celebrate Durban this September.

Students will be working in groups consisting of First year students, Second year students and a Final year student appointed as the Creative Director of the team. The reason for this group structure is to ensure that students are exposed to a variety of talented artists with a range of skill sets. For example, the first year students will pick up some computer skills by working with the second and third year students and will get a taste of what to expect in the senior years of the diploma. The third year students will benefit a great deal as they would be equipped with the skills of leading and mentoring a team of people to achieve the results of a brilliant finished product. Soon, the second year students will get their chance to be Creative Directors. The other advantage is that the students will also add these adverts to their portfolio each year and that alone is an important part of our diploma programme.

Visit the CFAD website for pics of the teams...

Comic Book Launch: Block 1

Sat 5th Septemberis the date when “BLOCK 1” comic strip has it’s official launch with Warren Raysdorf on hand to show you exactly how the strip was created with a LIVE drawing on the evening and he will also be doing CARACATURES of anyone who is keen. You can also have a chat with the story board writer Alastair Laird on how they came up with this autobio-”graphical” novel as they have coined it.

Visit the Its Alive! FaceBook Group for more info.

Soobben Scoops 2009 Vodacom Award

Nanda Soobben won the 2009 Vodacom Journalist of the Year in the KZN Cartoon Category. Soobben, internationally acclaimed cartoonist has been plying his trade for the past twenty-five years. His socio-political statements, cartoons and illustrations have been printed in newspapers such as The Post, Independent on Saturday, Daily News and the Sunday Tribune. His cartoons are also syndicated to major international newspapers and websites.

Below is the winning cartoon posted on the East Coast Radio Blog

For more on Nanda Soobben visit www.cfad.co.za