Week 29, Robin Opperman

"LIVING MY LIFE"

Creative Director -Umcebo Design and Full-Time Artist.

Robin has been involved in the arts and crafts in one form or another his whole adult life. Inspite of this, his formal qualification is that of a Mathematics teacher!

After graduating from the University of Natal with a Social Science Degree and a Post Grad Diploma in Applied Social Sciences; Robin left the country for a period of four and a half years. This was the late 80s and a time of political turmoil in South Africa. He was granted Refugee status in Zimbabwe and during his time there he started the annual "Refugee Day Art Exhibition". Additionally, he produced his own art and sculpture - some of which were accepted into the annual Baringa exhibition at the Harare National Gallery.

With political change in the air in 1990, Robin returned to Durban where he worked as a Maths teacher and furthered his studies to achieve his HDE.

When he realised that Maths teaching was not his calling, he volunteered at Ningizimu School for the Severely Mentally Handicapped as an Art Teacher (since they did not have one at the time). The school principle, Constance Ngubane, instantly recognised Robins drive and vision and motivated for a permanent teaching post at the school for him.

The rest is history (as they say...).

Robin uses a combination of recycled / reclaimed materials, wire, beads, crystals, fabric and basically anything he can lay his hands on to create craft decor items inspired by mostly flora and fauna themes. Robin's strength is his vision and ability to take a crazy idea and make it happen. He has considerable crafting skills himself (which he is continually developing), but he also knows when to bring in other crafters and artist who have a unique skill or artistic voice that he wishes to tap. In every sense of the word, creations from Umcebo Design are "hand-made" and the outcome of genuine and generous artistic collaboration.

Robin sees Umcebo Design as a conduit for like-minded artists and crafters to meet, connect and motivate one another around new, innovative and ambitious projects.

Robin is also a full-time artist in his own capacity. He paints murals, works in oils and acrylics and his latest passion is to draw digitally. His works explore his daily life living in Durban (South Africa). Using the Procreate App on his iPad he is also able to explore the depth and scope that digital art affords him. At 58 years old, Robin feels like he is just getting started and he looks forward to growing his skills as well as collaborations and partnerships with other artists in the future.