What keeps you from expressing yourself? Our imaginations don’t stop working the moment we become adults. But demands, debit orders, and responsibilities begin to take centre stage. They sap our mental energy, and the extent of our creativity whittles down to choosing which meal to microwave. But for Ree Treweek, Robert Whitehead, and Lucas Mahlangu, imagination holds the answers to both their bills and contentment.
Ree Treweek is a dreamer who’s given her subconscious free rein. The artist brings her thoughts to life through animation, puppetry, and sculpture, and has even transformed her home into a living reflection of her creativity. “As an adult, you can become a little bit scared to take risks,” she says. “You get stuck on this notion of stability and imagination allows you to break free of that.” Pursuing her inner worlds, Treweek has crafted a successful career. After quietly honing her artistry for years, she gained acclaim for her short animated film The Tale of How, winning multiple international awards. Today, she’s the director of her own studio, working on projects across the globe.
Robert Whitehead never grew out of playing with toys. Ignoring the funny looks from adults around him, Whitehead persisted in his passion for photographing miniature characters. “I find it therapeutic,” Whitehead says. “It’s my escape.” He’s since built a thriving business out of having fun, and has been commissioned for projects by Lego and Minecraft. Combining toys, special effects, and his ingenuity, he evokes vivid life with his images, from a stormtrooper relaxing at the beach to Thor smashing the ground with his hammer. “It’s important to never forget about that kid inside you,” Whitehead says. “Who wants to really grow up anyway?”
In sandcastles, Lucas Mahlangu unearthed the key to joyful living. After moving from landlocked Mpumalanga to KwaZulu-Natal in search of work, he was inspired by the fluidity of beach sand. “I created a job from what I saw in front of me,” he says. Mahlangu dug in and used his talents to shape his life with sand sculptures. Handfuls of malleable grains hold the future of his family together. “It’s a labour of love,” Mahlangu says. Taking nearly a week to build, Mahlangu’s fleeting seaside monuments require patience, planning, and playfulness. “Building these sculptures has taught me that nothing is permanent,” Mahlangu says. “But it is possible to create something beautiful every day.”
Treweek, Whitehead, and Mahlangu are harnessing the creativity they were born with to uncover new possibilities. No matter who we are or what kind of jobs we have, the ability to express ourselves is at our fingertips – if only we would give them permission to dance.
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