Tamzyn Botha
TURNING TRASH INTO TREASURE TO SAVE THE PLANET
Tamzyn Botha at Shade in Brixton, Johannesburg © Thom Pierce 2023
Actionism isn’t always about giant projects or making a big noise. Sometimes, simply the way that you position yourself in the world qualifies as a profound form of Actionism, leading by example and creating work practices that encourage positive change within the community around you.
Tamzyn Botha runs Shade, an art studio in the small suburb of Brixton, Johannesburg. It is a space for teaching, artist residencies and for her to create commissioned work. Through this space, she also runs a materials library, a space where artists can come and buy found objects to use in their own work.
“There is an abundance of materials. In my own work, I use found objects and trash. Some of it is from stuff that I have been collecting from dumps for a couple of years.”
The objects for the materials library are sourced in collaboration with local reclaimers, or waste pickers, who sort through trash and recycling on the streets around Brixton. Tamzyn gives them an idea of the kind of items that would be useful to her and then buys what she needs directly from the reclaimers. She then archives and indexes them for the library.
“I see myself as a facilitator, connecting the dots between people and opportunities.”
Although Tamzyn describes herself as a “glorified hoarder”, and not as an activist, her work is clearly grounded in community upliftment, sustainable living, and environmental responsibility.
Through her various projects, the messages of waste and abundance come through loud and clear. Through her actions, we get a real-world example of how we could all live and work with a little more consideration for the community around us.
Tamzyn is now excited to be passing these values on to a whole new generation through an art programme that she runs for kids in the local area.
Through Shade, Tamzyn also curates the Brixton Light Festival, a community parade that celebrates the diversity of the small suburb. The initiative began with a whole series of events that utilise community engagement methods that were then used as building blocks to curate a festival that is underpinned by inclusivity and that is representative of the community.
With over 150 volunteers and 250 artists and performers at the festival itself, the event has mushroomed in size and significance. This year’s theme is “The Watershed - where the waters meet the light”, celebrating and raising awareness of the water system that runs through the whole of Africa and straight through Brixton itself.
The festival will include many events and initiatives including a mapping project of the history and geology of Brixton, including the watershed itself and a guerilla blue plaque project, celebrating the unsung heroes of the suburb.
The festival starts with a parade from the Brixton market at 4 pm on the 2nd of September.
