THE MAKINGS OF a maker

Multidisciplinary artist Tinyiko Makwakwa reflects on her background and culture as she weaves her personal story into every piece

Tinyiko Makwakwa doesn’t define herself as a designer or textile artist. She defines herself as a maker, because that is what she is.

Raised in Tzaneen, Limpopo, this Johannesburg-based creative powerhouse captures African artistry through textile, natural dye and fibre. Whatever she happens to be making, her practice centres around the sustainability and the use of natural materials. Her work always pays homage to long-forgotten ways of living; she collects and preserves what was lost while taking care of the planet. She even creates her own botanical dyes using onion skins, eucalyptus leaves and other items normally discarded as organic waste.

Tinyiko has exhibited in several galleries around South Africa, and her work has also formed part of the 2023 Cape Town Art Fair. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Social Science from the University of Brighton in the UK, where she found herself drawn to the world of creative arts. We sat down with her to find out more about her craft…

When did you fall in love with art?

My earliest memory of art is textile. Where I grew up, everybody did some form of textile – from needlework to embroidery – but I can’t pinpoint a time I fell in love with it. I think it chose me and, just like a calling, I simply cannot quit doing it.

How would you describe your artistic style? 

It’s an evolving matrilineal gift. I learnt by watching my grandmother and my cousin, and through time and practice. The craft has inherently evolved and grown over time, and that’s something I have learnt to appreciate.

What made you switch from Applied Social Sciences to art?