We had the good fortune of connecting with Balekane Legoabe and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Balekane, career-wise, where do you want to be in the end?
For me personally, the end goal is not to have an end goal. My approach to art making is driven by the notion of process. I love to tinker, play and experiment. It is an hourly task to practice resilience and not be stifled by the world’s constructs and criticism, but rather to continue to explore and experiment with different approaches and materials till the day that my mind and my hands fail. The temptation is to find an approach that works and roll with it. It takes work to constantly be pushing myself to get out of my comfort zone and explore in order to expand my creativity.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
In terms of my approach to art making, I am far more ‘process’ rather than ‘outcomes’ driven. I priorotize experimentation and play above everything else, and I’ve seen how this often yields the most compelling outcome.

Aside from being an artist, I’m an avid runner and I’m also super passionate about music.

I truly believe that none of my passions/ practices happen in isolation. The mental and emotional modalities that I employ while running and listening to music filter their way into my artistic practice. Going on long runs forces me to practice a great deal of patience and resilience. I apply this to my artistic practice by reminding myself that I should be patient with myself and the process, and to continue to persist if it seems like the artwork isn’t working out.

I also welcome and embrace ‘failure,’ seeing it as an opportunity to grow.

Music allows me to tap into deep emotional states which I translate into visual and sound art.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Major shoutout to my college professors, Maaike Bakker and Jayne Crawshay-Hall Robertson for seeing my potential and believing in me even before I did. Big big love to my mom and dad for their unwavering support and setting the foundation that allows me to live my dream.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bale__kane/

Other: behance: https://www.behance.net/balekanele8449

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutAtlanta is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.