giving gold a fresh lustre
Please sample a degustation menu of some of my work as Creative Director of the golden world of AuDITIONS for AngloGold Ashanti.
In Brazil, China, India, South Africa and the Middle East, we ran design competitions that resulted in the creation of jewellery collections with spectacular 18 -24 carat couture pieces that weighed up to half a kilo each.
In addition to being involved in the design aspect of the project, I oversaw fashion shoots, collateral design, glamorous global events and catwalk shows (including Fashion Weeks), all of which generated significant media value around the world.
die antwoord x aUditions
We were always up for unusual collaborations that pushed the creative boat out. With this one the good ship AuDITIONS bravely set sail on a wild new sea.
Die Antwoord is Afrikaans for The Answer.
The question: One of my good friends was directing the music video - did I want to get our bling in there?
Die Antwoord: Fok ja!
So we arrived on set with kilos of gold couture jewellery (and armed security, this was Johannesburg). Ninja and Yolandi browsed the golden library and selected their pieces. 83M views and counting…
Show me what you got
A bit (actually, a lot) of fun - I created this song as a theme tune for AuDITIONS. I worked with the immensely talented South African musician Robin Walsh. I did the vocal and wrote the lyrics. Such a funky, cheeky, bouncy little number! I’d love to do more of this kind of work.
Catwalk footage from Brazil, China, South Africa and India.
golden noir
A song we commissioned from Loyiso Bala, one of South Africa’s most popular R&B/Soul stars. He got his friends Obita and Jamal to pitch in too. I wrote the lyrics.
Rather than producing a conventional catalogue for the Urban Tribes Collection, we presented it as a graphic novel, but then we added another twist: instead of illustration we embarked on an exquisite noir shoot, photographed by the brilliant Ross Garret. We used those images in the music video.
We launched collection to the public in an entirely unprecedented way - with an original musical,Streets of Gold, which was based on the story of the graphic novel.
This integrated campaign won the grand prize at the prestigious Business Arts South Africa arts sponsorship awards.
AuDITIONS x Franz Gräbe Flower Couture
Flora meets AuRA. Arguably our most spectacular fashion collaboration was with Franz Gräbe Flower Couture. Taking our jewellery pieces as inspiration, Franz and his studio created a staggering ensemble of plant- and flower-based catwalk couture. Everything on show is 100% organic or high-carat gold.