Colourworxx Fashion Film with FUUD London & West Carolina

This film was created as part of an art installation and photo shoot brought together by Cydney Eva, founder of PatternNation and Cath Carver, founder of Colour Your City and Editor-in-Chief of COLOURWORXX, in collaboration with local fashion designers Fuud and West Carolina. It took place at The Cause November 2019 in Tottenham, North London, with a focus on The Garage room - which had been designed by Antonis Papamichael with distinctive UV pink grids - inspired by gaming and CAD - as part of a spatial transformation project for Colour Your City. The space was further animated with floating sculptures known as Blobs made by PatternNation, creating a playful immersive installation. The art, fashion and dance collaboration brought together an amazing community of creatives, designers, models and performers. Exploring themes of movement, body positivity and spatial transformation through the design of the space, play with the blobs, bright neon colours and bold fashion. Embracing our body fully as a vessel for joy and creativity. Celebrating the fullness of potentiality, activated imagination, spatial fantasy, empowered self-expression, and infinite play with colour and form.

Filmmaker's/ Curators bio

PatternNation is a colourful clothing brand and creative platform currently based in Coquitlam so-called BC Canada, run by visual artist / fashion designer Cydney Eva - originally from Vancouver, Canada and musician / fashion designer Costa Besta - originally from Durban, South Africa. They create one-of-a-kind ungendered clothing all sewn themselves, curate, shoot and edit fashion editorial photoshoots and short films, murals, painted backdrops, Blob installations, music, DJ mixes, events, collaborations and more. 

COLOURWORXX is a new full-spectrum and multimedia exploration of colour with creatives around the world to share colour knowledge and city visions, enriching our experience of urban life. It’s a project from Colour Your City, created by Cath Carver, which is an interdisciplinary arts practice dedicated to using colour as a tool to transform urban space and bring communities together through spatial design, public art, creative placemaking, and chromatic and civic research. You can tune into the monthly Colourworxx netil radio show HERE

Team Credits

Clothing: Fuud @fuud.london PatternNation @pattern.nation West Carolina @_westcarolina

Models: Geni Lou @geni_lou Ana Carolina @iam_anacarolina Bx Sassy @bxsassy Curtis McDonald @motionhyrule Loops Harakoo @loops_harakoo Louise Halswell @stume_studio

Editor / Blob Sculptures / Model: Cydney Eva @cydeva

Curator / Model: Cath Colour Carver @colourcarver

Videographers: Guille Reverter @ihateplatypus Pilar Malo @blackfriedbeans_

Music: Deep Respect - Kratos @kratosofsparta

Location: The Cause @thecauselondon

Spatial design: Antonis Papamichael @iammulletman for Colour Your City @colour_your_city

COLOURWORXX @colourworxx

Chomies with Flare @ the Colour Lab Rooftop

Shop the full collection at Blue Priest Afrotek Store 42 Palmer Road Muizenburg South Africa

Chomies with Flare is a fashion editorial and short fashion/dance film by creative platform and fashion label PatternNation showcasing a group of diverse and talented dancers, creatives and artists. The project was filmed at the Colour Lab Rooftop in Cape Town South Africa on April 18th 2021 the day Table Mountain burst into flames due to a forest fire that burned for days. With a soundtrack by PatternNation’s Costa Besta, the Chomies (a South African slang term for friends) walk a fierce runway wearing original PatternNation designs, accessories and Jewelry by Revamp expressing their individual flare. The film then transitions into contemporary dance freestyle showcasing four contemporary dancers Lucille Hendricks, Kyle Linde, Rafé Luke Green and Lisa Julie. PatternNation created this shoot with some of their closest chomies in Cape Town before relocating to Vancouver Canada. It was an opportunity to shoot at the exquisitely decorated Colour Lab Roof Top by Petra Vonk an exceptionally colourful artist making waves in Cape Town. Each model/dancer in this project embodies Pattern Nation’s ethos in their own unique way. Thank you to everyone involved in this shoot who made our time in Cape Town unforgettable, it was lit, literally!!

Kyle Linde @kylacox9 @iamkylelinde

Lucy Hendricks @lucillehendricks

Mel Bolton @influenced_by_life

Xtine Kapena @vitamine_c.k

Lady D BYTHELETTER @d_bytheletter

Rafé Luke Green @yvonneme__ 

Nellie Modimola @modimolanelissa

Amy Brown @q_amy_brown

Lisa Julie @lisavjulie

Team Credits: 

Clothing and Jewelry by: PatternNation @pattern.nation 

Jewelry by: Revamp @revamp_by_xoxoxtine

Location: ColourLab Rooftop @colourlabrooftopvenue Salt River Cape Town 

Videography: Allistaire Bart @allistairebart and Costa Besta @costabesta

Editing: Allistaire Bart 

Creative Direction: Kyle Linde @iamkylelinde and Cydney Eva @cydeva 

Original Music by; Mr.Shanengelele aka Costa Besta 

Models/Dancers: 

Kyle Linde @kylacox9

Cydney Eva @cydeva

Lucy Hendricks @lucillehendricks

Lady D BYTHELETTER @d_bytheletter

Amy Brown @q_amy_brown

Rafé Luke Green @yvonneme__ 

Nellie Modimola @modimolanelissa

Mel Bolton@influenced_by_life

Xtine Kapena @vitamine_c.k

Lisa Julie @lisavjulie

Interview with Just Kawz and Costa Besta about RETURN OF THE ZULU

Costa Besta rapper and musician from Durban currently based in Cape Town has a new track and music video out with Vancouver Canada based beat maker JustZawz. The music video is full of colourful trippy landscapes created, filmed and edited by the talented Justin Mcgee at Patrick Mcgee green screen studio in Durban South Africa featuring all original PatternNation clothing, Blobs and illustraions. Over a year since CostaBesta and Sound Taboo’s album Bantu Rhythm Rap dropped Costa is returning with this fire house track Return of the Zulu. Below is an interview with Just Kawz and Costa Besta by PatternNation’s Cydney Eva. 

What inspired the sound behind the track? 

Costa Besta: when I first heard the instrumental, I was chilling with Ryan (Just Kawz) and my brother in law Jeremy Paddon in the studio and I thought to myself ‘this sounds like the kind of house music i grew up listening to” called Mid Tempo House. As soon as I heard that, it hit home and so I asked Ryan if I could jump on it and he was down for a collaboration. The track is about me being at ease with myself and always evolving in my everyday experience. The title “The Return of the Zulu” came about because it was recorded in Vancouver Canada and Ryan (JustKawz) featured me, a South African Zulu artist all the way from KwaZulu Natal. Now I have returned with some heat.

Just Kawz: At the time I was really into the funk/mid tempo house sound. Whenever I get into the studio I try to experiment with all the gear in the room, no direction, just a lot of live jamming. This track came together so quickly and the soundscape fell into place so naturally. I showed Costa a couple beats and this one really stuck out to him, in a few minutes he was already writing and by the end of the session we had the whole track finished. 

What was it like to collaborate with each other?

Costa Besta: The collaboration was super natural, respect was mutual and we understood what we both wanted towards the project. Ryan was cool with whatever suggestions I came up with and vice versa. 

Just Kawz: Amazing, Costa is so talented and his delivery when we recorded felt effortless. I love working with artists that feel comfortable and confident so working together was smooth and exciting! 

Being from different places Vancouver and Durban on opposite sides of the globe do you think it added to the project? Do you think where you're from comes out in the music you make?

Costa Besta: Yes, My upbringing and knowledge is what fuels the energy and will to write about what i've experienced in my everyday life through positive lyricism. Sometimes I’d simply write songs because I feel like testing as many different Rhythms as I could come up with. The flow of the beat and the flow of my rhymes over the beat just makes me keep writing a whole lot more.

Just Kawz: Definitely, we all grow up listening to different music. The music that was shown to me early on shaped my ears. The palette has only become more diverse over the years and that's another thing that's so amazing when it comes to working with other artists from around the world. You’re exposed to new sounds, rhythms and musical structures that change your taste.

Where can we find your music online and are there any other projects you want readers to know about? 

CostaBesta: They will find all my music including the new single on all the music platforms (spotify, itunes, google play, tidal etc).

Please follow @CostaBesta on Facebook, Instagram

Just Kawz: My music is on all streaming platforms  (Spotify, Apple Music, Tibal, Google Play, Youtube etc)

Instagram: @Just.Kawz

My bandcamp page also has all my releases as well as some exclusive content/merch

Bandcamp: JustKawz

Credits 

Return of the Zulu

Beat produced by JustKawz @just.kawz (Vancouver Canada)

Rapper/ Performer: Costa Besta @costabesta (Cape Town South Africa)

Videography, Editing and Effects: Justin Sweat Face Mcgee @sweatface (Durban South Africa) 

Clothing, Illustrations and Blobs: PatternNation @patern.nation (Cydney Eva @cydeva and Costa Besta)

Dancers: Ratsholo Mahlatsi @the_mahlatsi_creations , Cydney Eva and Costa Besta 

Location: Patrick Mcgee Studios Durban South Africa

Article by Cydney Eva

Patterns of Self LIVE NOW on Sassy Shorts

Patterns of Self is a Vancouver Canada based editorial shoot that came out in 2018 illuminating both the sides of oneself; dark and light, black and white, masculine and feminine. The dichotomy of black and white was used in Patterns of Self through Pattern Nation's hand painted canvas garments and non binary model Helen Marley’s expressive portrayal of both the fem and masc sides of their being. This editorial looks at knowledge of self, love of self and understanding of self, these ideas are directly referenced in the image of Helen’s kiss with themselves. Creative direction Dosh Osholowu of Toronto member of Jungle3ribe brings his unique black and white esthetic into the mix and photographer Vaspaan Shroff from Mumbai specializes in surrealism, post production and animation. Makeup artist and Model team Lennox Campbell and Helen Marley often collaborate as they both play with concepts around gender and identity politics in their work, their ideas around perception of self directly informed Patterns of Self. All of these elements are brought together by PatternNation’s mural, painted canvas garments and black and white jewelry to create a truly surrealist effect. The short film has been screened at the 1 Minute Film Festival in Durban South Africa, as well as featured in Maze Mag and the film has recently been featured in the Sassy Shorts an online film festival based out of London UK. The Sassy Show is an independent multimedia platform, promoting female creatives in their professional careers. WATCH SASSY SHORTS and check out Patterns of self and another PatternNation collaborative film with COLOURWORXX dropping soon.

Painted Clothing, Mural and Jewelry: PatternNation’s Cydney Eva @pattern.nation @cydeva 

Creative Direction: Dosh Osholowu @adewolfy @jungle3ribe  www.doshosh.me 

Photographer:  Vaspaan Shroff http://www.portraitsbyvaspaanshroff.com/  @vaspaan95

Model: Helen Marley  @femanade

Makeup artist:  Lennox Campbell @bambambabi

Reinvention: Cape Town Artist Kyle Lindie on Fashion as a Physical Language on QWEAR FASHION

Read the Full Article and interview on Qwear Fashion

On one rainy day in Newlands Forest Cape Town at the base of Devils Peak Mountain a team of creatives found themselves creating magic among the dripping leaves and cloudy sky. Led by model, artist and visionary Kyle Lindie, PatternNation Designers Costa Besta and myself Cydney Eva came together with photographer Allistaire Bart, Revamp crown designer and Ambitions make up to create this editorial shoot. After hiking up the mountain till we found the perfect spot  we shot two looks: nude with body paint styled with the Revamp crown in the trees and on the rocks in PatternNation’s fringe bib top and pom pom shorts made from pattern fabric sourced in Hawaii and trims. Like all of kyle's work it was a celebration of life, creativity and nature and I asked him some questions about his artistry, queer identity and fashion. 

How do you express yourself as an artist? 

To me an artist is someone who sees the beauty in everything, uncategorized. It’s a way of seeing. My source of expression is limitless. I strongly feel that one's artistry shouldn't be boxed in or limited. To me, real artistry is reinvention. My “chief” art form is dance but it's not my only form of expression. I also express myself (artistically) through fashion. Fashion does not use words. It is, in a way, “art incarnate”. It is a performance. I don’t use words as a dancer—I use movement and presence and this becomes a physical language. Fashion is physical language.

Team Credits: Expressionist: @iamkylelinde Photographer: @allistairebart  MUA: @ambitions_makeup Assistant: @tanya_anderson24 Designer: @pattern.nation Purple crown: @revamp_by_xoxoxtine Written by @cydeva

Pattern Privilege Collab with Black Privilege for THREE MAG

Published in THREE MAG

This February Cerbastian Davids of Black Privilege, Nthabiseng Letsoso The Fashion Sangoma and Black Rose Mbalemnyama Radebe came to Cape Town from Joburg and Soweto to paint a mural in Baz Arts IPAF International Public Arts Festival which took place in Salt River. These artists partnered up with Pattern Nation's Cydney Eva and Costa Besta to create the clothing and jewelry for a photo and video shoot in front of their amazing new murals. During their stay at the Pattern Palace live work studio in Cape town Black Rose and the Fashion Sangoma made all the jewelry for the shoot and Cerbastian partnered with Cyd and Costa to create a new collection of clothing remixing Black Privilege T-shirts into new garments. The collaboration was
captured by the amazing cinematographer King George of Back Bone Media who also edited the film. This shoot celebrates self-expression and creativity and brought together artists from Gauteng, Kwazulu Natal and Canada all connecting in the CPT. PatternNation asked Black Privilege, Black Rose and The Fashion
Sangoma what drives their creativity, the concept behind their IPAF murals and the deeper message behind the art they make.  

 What was the concept behind the mural you painted in Salt River for IPAF?

Mbali: The subject for IPAF was digitalization of the arts and my concept behind the mural was to bring colour into peoples spaces especially places that have been deserted or abandoned by hopefully plugging on Wifi access to the community because that would be how we digitalize the artists and the work they do internationally and this is how we open up more knowledge by giving access to these communities as well.

Nthabiseng: It was our first experience with BlackRose to paint a public mural so we wanted to communicate
more using colour and incorporate the Seven principles of Kwanzaa, which emphasizes connectivity of every community. So we brought color, creativity and connectivity to our mural.

Cerbastian: “Digitalization”. In conclusion I would like to depict the possibilities that are not just out there
but right in front of us, for our youth to explore, Educate and equip themselves with skills and to succeed in
this world. You will be a fool if you do not make full use of what has been provided in the 21st century we live in. Our days of struggling to excess technology are over, its freely available. Use it do not abuse it.

What clothing or jewelry did you make for the collaboration? 

Mbali: The accessories I made were the necklaces and hat I'm wearing in the video, its was an interesting
process as it was my first time making them and using the equipment I used too. The accessories were made from rope and recycled materials from Pattern Nation who also assisted in the workplace and workshops. I loved it so much that I'm currently adding accessories to my Art works now for the future of Mbalemnyama
Art.

Nthabiseng: For the collaboration I had so much fun with Colour learning to make accessories ,from
yarn making pom poms earrings and neck pieces with rope and fabric cut offs . It was so exciting being part of this as everyone had something to contribute and could be whatever, so I got inspired so much by the  creative energy that I was surrounded with at Pattern Nation Studios.

Cerbastian: It was a collaboration of Myself and the Pattern Nation crew that made the trousers and
T-shirts. Using my Black Privilege prints and their expressive patterns we came with these sick new looks.

What is the vision behind your artistry?

Mbali: My art is focused on highlighting beautiful images of black women and the culture around them, And I
love using bright colors and adding educational concepts on the pieces, because it creates interesting conversations for both the audience and myself.

Nthabiseng: The vision behind my artistry is to always bring more creativity in all my expressions. I do this
through Colour and what is considered as waste.

Cerbastian: I do not consider myself an artist. I am simply an  expression, sharing my stories, opinions and knowledge about South Africa though, I believe it is our responsibility touse our natural given talent to empower and educate the youth about their history and present times to better equip and prepare them for the future.

What mediums do you use to express yourself?

Mbali: The mediums I use are mixed media, which contains of canvas, charcoal, paper mache, acrylic and oil
paint.

Nthabiseng: I express through Paper Waste Art, photography, fashion, music and graffiti.

Cerbastian: I express through painting, murals and canvases. I use rubbish I find in streets and upcycle it
into art. I’m also the founder of a fashion line called “Black Privilege”.

What does “Black Privilege” mean to you?

Mbali: Black Privilege means that I understand who I am, what my true history is and how I can always be
expressive about the black nation and my culture at large.

Nthabiseng: On Black Privilege.It means I am the carrier of the seed of humanity. That is a privilege.

Cerbastian: It is the vibrancy and diversity in food, music, language, fashion and art found in Black Cultures
and Traditions around the world.

How do Colour and Pattern influence your life?

Mbali: Colour and pattern mean a lot to me due to my traditional history being Zulu. We are a very expressive culture and we have used these mediums to communicate as the Zulu tribe.

Nthabiseng: Colour and Pattern brings vibrancy and positivity in my life. Awesome engaging energy. Always.

Cerbastian: They give me the freedom to be expressive. I get to manifest my thoughts through colour and
patterns and create my own reality and it becomes a way of life every day is a new canvas so put your signature on it.

Pattern Nation is ran by interracial couple, Cydney Eva who is white from Vancouver Canada born and
raised on indigenous unceded Coast Salish territory and Costa Besta who is of Zulu descent born and raised in Kwazulu Natal and Free State South Africa. We believe in the power that comes from indigenous people and colonial allies coming together to make positive change in the world. We are so often polarized in our communities and our collaboration with the brand Black Privilege is allabout unity. Both South Africa and Canada are countries with long histories of colonialism and mixed race artists like Cerbastian Davids want to see white people join the conversation about race and identity politics. Therefore he encourages white folks to buy and wear Black Privilege gear. He speaks about creating opportunity for radical conversations through having non-black people rep his message, Black Privilege asks us to celebrate the beauty, ingenuity, diversity and genius of black people.

This team of creatives felt it is a privilege to work together on this project and the essence of our collaboration inspired us all to make new art and be innovate with our given talents. All thanks to the amazing IPAF festival ran by Baz Arts who brings in local and international muralists to paint the Salt River district. The project brought us together to learn about each other’s cultures,backgrounds, stories, strengths, and most of all, to live together and break bread as one.

Team Credits:

Model, muralist, fashion designer:Cerbastian Davids of Black Priviledge @cerbastian_davids @blackk_privilege

Model, fashion Designer,musician, photo editing: Costa Besta of Pattern Nation @costabesta@pattern.nation

Model, fashion designer, writer: Cydney Eva of Pattern Nation @cydeva @pattern.nation

Model, muralist, jewelry designer: Mbalemnyama Radebe Black Rose @blackrose_dynasty

Model, muralist, jewelry designer: Nthabiseng Letsoso @thefashionsangoma

Photographer, videographer and editor: Kind George Back Bone Media @back_bone_studio_africa

Murals for International public art festival: Baz Arts@bazart_ngo @ipaf_festival_sa

Music: Mzanzi Today by Soundz Tabuu @soundztabuuand Costa Besta of their album Bantu Rhythm Rap.

BLOB Moments

PatternNation Blobs are interactive play sculptures made from upcycled fabric and stuffed with balloons. These unique sculptures have been installed around the world in galleries, clubs, parks and more. The Blobs are fun and safe for all ages and can be installed for short pop ups or longer term installations.

Previous Blob installations include Art Represent Gallery in London UK, Art in the Park North Van, Assemblage Gallery Johannesburg SA, KZNSA gallery Durban SA, Belmont  Montreal. Celebrities Underground Vancouver, Durban First Thursdays in collaboration with Colour Your City and more.

Cydeva has edited together 3 short one minute films showing the blobs in action set to music produced by Costa Besta. Check them out bellow and we would love to hear your feedback on the BLOBS.

Blobs and Kids

BLOBS - interactive play sculptures
PatternNation loves to work with youth and create environments for kids to play and have fun! It's no doubt that kids love BLOBS . We hope to introduce more young people to BLOBS after this virus passes, they will definitely be ready to get their play on.
Installations featured in these Blob moments are: @iheartmarket in collaboration with @colour_your_city and @colourcarver - 2018 Durban South Africa

@artstarts gallery for our Pattern Nation Imagination Exploration youth art program- 2018 & 2019 Vancouver Canada

Why I Design show at @museumofvan - 2018 Vancouver Canada

Video Edited by @cydeva

Music produced by @costabesta
A big thank you to all the kids and families who have played with BLOBS over the years! .

TRASH with Nubian Nene

Montreal/ NYC Based street dancer Nubian Nene met up with PatternNation’s Cydney Eva in Vancouver Canada Summer 2019. Nene was in town as a judge for Vancouver Street Dance Festival and this gave these long time friends as opportunity to collaborate. We styled PatternNation Looks with 3 Vancouver Mural Festival wall in the trendy Mount Pleasant neighborhood and set the film to the Track Trash by Johannesburg based queer musician Fortune Shumba.

Credits:
Model: Nubian Nene
Clothing: PatternNation
Earrings: Hot Brown Honey, Kasa Kava and Sequin Slim
Photography and editing: Cydney Eva Pattern
Production assistant: Lindy Sisson
Track: Trash by Fortune Shumba

Electric Elevation - Nubian City Collab

Electric Elevation

We are all in search of our most authentic self, that inner you that shines with pure Electric Elevation. This shoot reflects that search and was an exploration in cosmic connection and divine timing.  PatternNation is an international fashion, art and culture platform promoting colour and pattern, collaboration and inclusivity ran between Vancouver Canada and Durban South African. PatternNation's co-curators/designers Cydney Eva and Costa Besta had the pleasure of connecting with artists Shaemara, Chuck/ Soft honey poetry and David Rinaldo one afternoon in their home city Toronto Canada. Combining the colourful designs of PatternNation's ungendered one of a kind clothing pieces with Nubian City's regal head pieces and statement jewelry the editorial shoot Electric Elevation was born. Nubian City is a Toronto brand by multi media artist Shaemara, who creates Goddess Accessories for every Queen. Nubian City is a state of mind, it can be anywhere you are; it's all about imagination and reminding us that we are all royalty, promoting equality. For this shoot Shaemara designed custom Nefertiti Headpeice and collar to name a few feature pieces. David Rinaldo's artisan workshop studio set the stage for this collaborative shoot incorporating his wonderful antique collection with pattern projections by Bangalore based artist Brianna Klassen. We all felt the magic of this connection, the alignment of our larger than life designs and we hope that  Electric Elevation sparks viewers to embrace their most colourful, creative self, what ever that may look like for them.

Photographer: Costa Besta @costabesta

Editor: Cydney Eva Pattern @cydeva

Models: Shaemara @shaemara_ Chuck @softhoney.poetry

Necklaces, earrings, hats & collars: Nubian City @nubiancity

Clothing, fringe earrings & rope necklaces: PattternNation @pattern.nation

Projections: Brianna Klassen @brianna.klassen

Location: David Rinaldo's Artisan Workshop Studio Toronto 

Bleach the Dam - Water Wounds

Published in The Lake Magazine, Feroce Magazine and African Lens.co

It has been over three decades since people of Esikebheni, an area outside Inanda, north of Durban, have been displaced by Inanda dam. Forced to start over due to a water reserve that does not even supply the community with drinking water. Photographer Thobani K who was born in this area teamed up with Pattern Nation and vocalist Nosihe Zulu to produce images that tell a piece of the story about the struggle for water. Esikebheni is currently experiencing water cut-offs and strongly depends on water trucks delivering water twice a week. This has been a reality since 2013.

"When my family fell victim to Inanda Dam floods in 1987, they were given corrugated iron houses to live in them temporarily. Of course they ended up living there for 5 years before they could manage to actually build a new brick house for themselves. I was born in that corrugated iron house, and I can recall clearly my primary school days when a group of people from some organization came to teach us about cholera that had affected our community since we had no tap water. I remember one girl named Nana Mbambo who was one of the people that died from cholera; and I remember the fear those cholera deaths sent through out the neighbourhood. We feared the only water available to us but had no other option but to drink it, to drink the water from the very same dam that displaced us. They gave us bleach bottles for free and told us to put one spoon in 25litre barrels of water and wait for 24 hours before we can drink that water."

Thobani K has taken it upon himself to tell the whole story of the water issue through photographs; this set of images presented here tells a story of how the community was told to purify water from the dam using bleach, that is water for drinking and cooking. These images showcase Nosihe dressed in Pattern Nation's one of a kind clothing designs. They were shot on location at the dam, as well as in the community of Esikebheni. This collaboration between three individuals, Cyd Eva of  Pattern Nation a creative, visual art platform and experimental fashion label based between Vancouver (Canada) and Durban (South Africa);  Nosihe Zulu a jazz vocalist with a movement called UncutExclusive, where she performs in small intimate spaces in various cities; and creative fashion art photographer Thobani K. 

Water Purification - Bleach the Dam Credits 

Model: Nosihe Zulu @nosihezulu

Clothing and props: PatternNation’s Cyd Eva @pattern.nation @cydeva www.pattern.nation.com

Creative Direction, Photography and editing: Thobani K @thezoolooreigns

Location: Inanda Dam and Esikebheni  KwaZulu-Natal South Africa 

Gibela by Robin Third Floor

PatternNation styled Durban South Africa rapper Robin Third Floor for his “GIBELA” Music video sponsored by Jägermeister. We custom upcycled his look and UV painted robin’s face.

Photos by Ryan Roake

Mampodi - CostaBesta & Soundz Tabuu ft. Oudskul Funq

Produced by:  SoundzTabuu
Video Shot by : Cyd Eva and Cebo Nxumalo
Edited by: Cebo Nxumalo
Dressed by: Pattern Nation

SPLAT! Pax x Costa Besta for MazeMag

A PatternNation collaborative shoot with Costa Besta (Durban South Africa) and Pax (Montreal Canada), SPLAT! was conceptualized and shot within 48 hours and brought to life at the Pattern Palace Vancouver. We played with Avante Garde costume pieces, paint splatter, pillow fluff, a broken down fridge and more to create this surrealist, bizarre combination of looks. The two worlds of dancer Pax and rapper/performer Costa Besta collided in this photography and dance film collaboration. SPLAT! asks the viewer to stretch their imaginations and think about how they can activate the present before it becomes the past. 

Published in Maze Mag

Photographer: Cydney Eva Pattern aka Cydeva

Editor: Costa Besta/ Cydeva 

Costumes/ Clothing/ Stylist: PatternNation, Cydeva @pattern.nation

Models: Pax @pax_art , Costa Besta @costabesta 

Location of shoot: Pattern Palace Vancouver Canada 

Track: Coast by MISSU and Costa Besta

TRIANGULATE - Short Dance Film Commissioned byt F-O-R-M Festival 2018

TRIANGULATE A PatternNation Collaborative Film

PatternNation welcomes you on the journey that is TRIANGULATE. Filmed within three cities: Durban South Africa, Vancouver and Nanaimo Canada this film brought together 21 diverse artists between the two countries. The journey begins with the introverted self, the part of us that experiences solitude, intimacy and self-reflection. In the first scene vocalist Nipho Hurd brings us into nature with her track while dancers Lorin SoKool, Marisa Gold and Jason Bempong express and explore with PatternNation’s interactive soft blob sculptures. Our creative compass takes us next to the extroverted self, the part of us that experiences social stimulation, attention and excitement. The extroverted self is expressed by Lex Lafoy’s track Sibaningi’la (Zulu) There are many of us (English). We celebrate community connection with the full Durban cast and Vancouver dance company Immigrant Lessons. This voyage ends in exploring the creative self, the part of us that experiences innovation, exploration and originality. Set amidst PatternNation Murals CostaBesta’s experimental track is danced by TJ Jali and choreographer Lorin SoKool in Durban, Marisa Gold and Jason Bempong (Immigrant Lessons) in Nanaiamo and performed by CostaBesta in both cities. The introverted self, the extroverted self and the creative self complete the triangle that is TRIANGULATE. Thank you for joining us on this colourful trip as we explore connecting the Mind, Body and Soul through dance, visual art, self-expression and cross-cultural exchange. *All music in the film has been produced by Missu and respective artists for this project.

Team:

Director/ Producer/ Costumes/ Art/ Dancer: Cydney Eva Pattern @cydeva of PatternNation @pattern.nation Videographers: Cebo Nxumalo @cebo_nxumalo Nhlanhla Gcabashe @gcabashenhalanhla Kimberley Honzález @kimzalez876 Hân Phạm @hanpham7999 Jason Bempong @brotha_jason Editor: Kimberly Gonzalez @kimzalez876 Musicians/Emcees/ Performers: CostaBesta @costabesta Lex Lafoy @lex_lafoy Nipho Hurd @nipho_hurd Beatmaker/ Music Producer: Sean Ross @missu2missu Sound Engineer: Dave Audinary @dave_audinary_sa Choreographer/ Dancer (Durban): Lorin Sokool @koolsokool Dancer: TJ Jali @zamokuhlet.j Dancers/ Choreography (Vancouver): Immigrant Lessons @immigrantlessons : Kevin Fraser @kevinfraser Alyssa Amarshi @alyssamarshi Jason Bempong @brothajason Josh Ongocol @josheeong Sophia Gamboa @sophiaa.gamoa Marisa Gold @marathegold Sharon Lee @sharon_lee8 Production Assistant: Lindy Sisson @lindydance

BAFO NDUGO - Brother Brother

A PatternNation Collaborative Film with
MA/RA MA/SO Man Raise Man Society

Last year PatternNation team Cyd Eva and Costa Besta (based in Durban South Africa and Vancouver Canada) had the opportunity to go to Victoria Falls Zimbabwe and work with the talented Musician and Social Activist Prince Amabasa Nelson Mandela (Based in Nairobi/ Mombasa Kenya and Dar El Salaam Tanzania). This is how the project Bafo Ndugu: Brother Brother was born. After recording a freestyle jam session with singer song writer Ambasa Mandela and rapper, beatboxer Costa Besta we set out to shoot in the outstanding nature at Vic Falls wearing PatternNation’s limited run of Durban Dots button up shirts. We shot at the falls, the big tree, on the Zambezi river and at Flat Dog lodge, all the while sharing perspectives on the world, life, love, creativity and how to uplift our fellow man across race, class and cultural barriers. MA/RA MA/SO man raise man society is a movement founded by Mandela to bring humans together through the powers of music, creativity and social change to end violence and advocate for peace. The MA/RA MA/SO symbol is crossed fingers representing how we must come together through conflict and difference and raise each other up. Bafo means Brother in Zulu Costa’s native tongue and Ndugu means brother in Mandela’s language of Swahili. We chose this title as it shows that from across nations and cultures in Africa we can find brotherhood, connections and like minded souls. This is a project meant to spread the messages of love, connection and empowerment. Just listen to Mandela’s lyrics “you already are something, why you want to look for something?...Got to be yourself, got to love yourself…” Watch and you will feel the movement and the uplifting, feminist, self-loving brotherhood that is Bafo Ndugu.

Team Credits:
Vocals, Guitar, Lyrics and Model: Prince Ambasa Nelson Mandela @ambasa_mandela
Beatboxing and Model: Costa Besta @costabesta
Shirts: PatternNation @pattern.nation www.pattern-nation.com
Videography, Editing and Photography: Cyd Eva Pattern @cydeva
Executive Producer/Project Assistant: Lindy Sisson @lindydance www.lindysisson.com
Transportation and Local Hospitality: BaAshy Misheck M&M travel mmisheck@mmsafaris.com

Mural for Creatington Los Angeles

Time lapse of a mural for Lafa Taylors “FLEX” music video. Painted in September 2017 at Creatington Studios Los Angeles by Cydney Eva Pattern.