Fire fantasia

WORDS Malibongwe Tyilo PHOTOS Sydelle Willow Smith

Photographer Sydelle Willow Smith focussed her lens on the colourful and fascinating House on Fire in Swaziland. Browse this beautiful visual essay capturing the creativity and culture that goes into their individualistic carvings.

The House on Fire has been described “one of the most eclectic venues in the world”, a description we think is well deserved considering the many influences and artistic disciplines it accommodates. Located on a family farm on the Swaziland countryside, this fantasyland is part-gallery, part-studio and part-live-entertainment-venue.

It is the brainchild of Jiggs Thorne. Born and raised in Swaziland, and an artist focusing on theatre, poetry and fine art himself, Jiggs was inspired by the artists he was exposed to while studying in South Africa. When he went back home, he saw the need for both artisanal development and a live entertainment venue, and House on Fire was born.

Jiggs put together a core team of artists comprising himself, Noah Mdluli who at age of 48 has been carving soapstone since he was 20, and woodcarver Shadrack Masuku whose work had caught Jiggs’s eye years prior to the opening of House on Fire, when he used to sell his wares to passing tourists as a roadside vendor.

Together the team also runs an on-going artist development programme, through which they employ freelance artists. They’ve participated in numerous exhibitions around the world and their work has landed in several private collections, including the Oppenheimer collection where it sits side-by-side with the Masters.

“It’s been an amazing 11 years, and we’ve had performers from all over the world” says Jiggs. This is because the space is also home to Bushfire, a three-day international music festival that attracts some 20 000 music lovers to Swaziland in May every year. South Africa’s own Hugh Masekela, Lady Smith Black Mambazo, Freshlyground and Toya Delazy have all graced the stage there. All 100% of the profit made during the festival go towards Swaziland’s Aids orphans through the reputed NGO Young Heroes. The merchandise proceeds are earmarked through NPO Gone Rural boMake.

Jiggs considers the space to be a work in progress, constantly evolving and inspired by those who work in it, entertain in it; those who visit it, and of course the needs of the community that it serves.

www.house-on-fire.com

Browse more of Sydelle’s stunning visual essays here.