Painting on Purpose - Phantaze

In June of 2019 we partnered with Painting on Purpose to paint a local durban informal sediment Phantaze. Working with a group of local youth Costa Besta, Cydney Eva and Rabbit aka the Mahatsli Creations

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

Ultramarine Whirlwind

On a windswept day on the indian ocean beaches of Durban South Africa Ultramarine Whirlwind editorial was born. This team of local creatives each brought their own unique energy and artforms to the collaboration. Featuring PatternNations latest collection of  one of kind painted vintage denims, lovingly embellished by PatternNation co-designers Cyd Eva from Vancouver Canada and Costa Besta from Durban South Africa. The denim was all sourced locally in South Africa and painted at their live work studio the Durban Pattern Palace. The talented Durban based photographer Ryan Roake captured the models with his unique surrealist style of majestic photography. Ryan scouted the location with the sand dunes and artfully edited the shots to create the mystique of a remote beach while in the heart of the cities waterfront. The models in this project are wave makers in the Durban community, our male model the rapper musician Robin Third Floor and our female model Host and professional model Tanya Greyling. The painted and upcycled denim collection in Ultramarine Whirlwind speaks to the importance of upcycling and reusing textiles and vintage. The fast fashion industry is a big contributor to the pollution of our oceans and the planet. It’s our responsibility as the next generation of fashion consumers and fashion lovers to make different choices; reuse the materials we have, shop locally, thrift, upcycle and ask questions. 

Team Credits

Models: Tanya Greyling @discovering_tanya  Agency: @Bossmodelsdurban

Robin Third Floor @robinrapsgood

Photographer: Ryan Roake @ryan_roake_photography 

Fashion Designer: PatternNation’s Cyd Eva and Costa Besta @pattern.nation @cydeva @costabesta 

Location: Ushaka Marine Beach Durban South Africa 

Lesotho Fashion Week

There was a call out for designers around Africa to come and showcase their clothing on a Fashion show hosted in Lesotho called “ Lesotho Fashion Week”, we signed up and we were chosen to participate. The venue that hosted the event was Mpilo Boutique Hotel.We made a new range for the Fashion Show and we took a road trip to Lesotho.

Our Brand is about inclusivity, everyone is accommodated regardless of your race, weight, height, ethnicity or gender.

We Kindly requested a variety of individuals to model for us, from oversized models to dancers, our runway was pretty interesting because the dancers wanted to do a little choreography as they were strutting along the ramp.

The choreography was divided into three, the first one was the Pantsula dancers that did a little performance, then it was a solo of a Hip hop dancer which transitioned into a partner dancing with all of the models.

We later came out with the rest of the models onto the runway to thank everyone for coming through to show their support.

Silk n' Strokes

Silk n’ Strokes a PatternNation Collaborative shoot bringing together artists and creatives from Sweden, England, Taiwan, Canada and South Africa. Showcasing PatternNation’s limited run of silk patterned unisex shirts, hand painted denim jackets and beaded necklaces, this editorial is a playful collection of creative humans coming together in Durban South Africa. Photographer Cath Colour Carver based in London England is the founder of Colour Your City a global movement re-imaging urban space with colour. Cath captured this diverse cast of models in front of a PatternNation mural commissioned by Karla Thring painted by Cydney Eva (PatternNation founder) with help from Cath, Karla and her son. The models in this shoot bring PatternNation’s international community alive: Kyle Deutsch a Durban based singer/songwriter, CostaBesta a Durban based rapper and co-curator of PatternNation, Nancy Lee a Taiwanese Canadian artist, producer and filmmaker and Emmalena Fredriksson a Swedish contemporary dancer and choreographer both based in Vancouver Canada. Silk n’ Strokes aims to play with colours, shapes, textiles and textures and represent the diverse cast of humans that live, visit, create and work in Durban South Africa.

Photographer: Cath Colour Carver @colourcarver @colour_your_city http://www.colouryourcity.com/

Clothing: PatternNation @pattern.nation www.pattern-nation.com

Silk shirts, hand painted denim jackets, painted beaded necklaces designed by Cydney Eva and Costa Besta

Mural: PatternNation @pattern.nation www.pattern-nation.com painted by Cydney Eva with help from Cath Carver and Karla Thring Commissioned by Karla Thring @karliloooo

Models: Kyle Deutsch @kyle_deutsch Nancy Lee @whichnancy Emmalena Fredriksson @emmalenafredriksson Costa Besta @costabesta

Fabricated Fantasy

Fabricated marks our first official art show as an Arts Collective, Brianna Klassen, Cyd Eva and Costa Besta all came together to produce this multidisciplinary art show with Sleepless Mindz, Zandi Dandizette and the Della Kit (formally Erica Dee).

It was a night of interactive art that truly brought our community together. The basement showcased a Blob pit with textiles designed by Cyd and Bri. The main floor showcased paintings, wearable art and an interactive projection installation by Cyd, Costa and Bri as well as an experimental music jam by Costa Della and Friends. The top floor showcased an art installation by Zandi and Jason Bempong.

The Photoshoot we curated in the space was published in Montreal based art magazine Yootopik ISSUE 2

PatternNation Imagination Exploration @ Artstarts 2018

PatternNation ran our first children’s program at Artstarts in Vancouver Canada. Our facilitators for our weekly class were: Cydney Eva Pattern, Katy Slany, Jason Bempong, Maggie Macpherson, Jason Bempong and DJ guest Costa Besta. The students upcycled vintage clothing, painted a mini panel mural backdrop, modelled in a photoshoot and fashion show. All photos by Maggie Macpherson.

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

Durban Dots

Published in Between 10 and 5

PatternNation, a visual art platform and clothing label for humans who embrace colour and pattern globally has been creating in Durban for the last 6 months. Ran by Cydney Eva Pattern (based in Vancouver Canada) and Costa Besta (based in Durban South Africa) PatternNation had the opportunity to collaborate on a mural in one of Durban’s artist districts Station Drive through the support of Open Plan Studios. The pattern’s painted in the mural are based off of the shirt collection photographed in Durban Dots. PatternNation worked with local Durban CMT’s and used locally sourced fabric for this small run of one of a kind colourful unisex shirts. Cydney and Costa live painted the mural during Durban First Thursday in April inviting a group of artist friends to contribute to their patterns to the mural; Dylan Smith, Puls and Trent Sukdeo. Durban Dots was photographed and edited by the talented and upcoming Thobani K and modelled in by Cydney and Costa of PatternNation and Nipho Hurd and Yanga of Tinz Clothing. When asked about the collaborative shoot, his ideas and photographic style Thobani K said: “My ideas around the shoot were to embody a spirit of fun as the bold coloured shirts connoted a happy brand. The implementation of banana and Zulu sandals was aimed at contextualizing the shoot as a Durban story. The happy couples and group shots emphasized the love that exists, and a sense of companionship. Models behaved naturally without emulating poses foreign to their sense of self. The music played on set added a groovy atmosphere that inspired smiles and witty faces.” The coming together of colourful couples Cydney and Costa with Nipho and Yanga all part of the Durban PatternNation family added even more depth and community feel to this editorial shoot. As PatternNation sets off to Vancouver Canada for July we want to celebrate and honour all of the vibrant humans and creatives we have had the chance to work with while in Durban since January through this shoot. The limited run of Durban Dots genderless shirts and necklaces are available through PatternNation and all of Durban is welcome to come and take photos and hang out by our permanent Durban Dots mural on Station Drive. Keep it colourful! 

Clothing and Jewelry: PatternNation @pattern.nation www.pattern-nation.com

Mural: PatternNation @pattern.nation 

Painters: Cydney Eva @cydeva Costa Besta @costabesta Dylan Smith @the_creative_yeti, Puls, and Trent Sukdeo

Photography and Editing: Thobani K @thezoolooreigns www.thobanik.gallery/

Models: Cydney Eva Pattern @cydeva, Costa Besta @costabesta, Nipho Hurd @nipho_hurd, Yanga @tinz_clothing

Paint and wall space for mural provided by: Open Plan Studio @openplanstudio

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

Fragmented Virility

This surrealist photo series is a collaboration between photographer Maggie Macpherson, costume designer/ art director Cydney Eva of PatternNation and makeup artists Miel Enage and Keiko Hosoi. Fragmented Virility aims to look at gender politics and androgyny through the mediums of textile art, body painting and experimental photography. Mountains of masculinity have been built up in today’s patriarchal society. Men and women are raised gendered and taught how to relate to their masculinity/feminity. In this editorial shoot set in North Vancouver’s Lynn Canyon mountain valley PatternNation aims to fragment and alter our everyday understanding of the masculine body. Each model in this shoot played a role in creating this narrative, by bringing their unique energy, relationship to gender and cultural perspective into the collaboration. To align with the concepts illuminated in Fragmented Virility, PatternNation’s collection of one of a kind garments use the colour blue: a reflection on how blue is used as a tool in gendering clothing for “boys”. Photographer Maggie MacPherson challenges virility (manliness) by shooting with mirrors and reflection as well as altering the images in post, this creates a conversation around self-reflection and perception of self. The photographic choices give the editorial a very surrealist effect, using nature's patterns to further illuminate our concept. Makeup artist team Miel Enage and Keiko Hosoi captured the essence of PatternNation’s other worldly patterns by creating distinctly unique and colourful painted looks for each model. Together this team of Vancouver Canada based artists bring you Fragmented Virility, a conceptual Editorial questioning normality, gender binaries and societal constructs.

Credits

Art Direction: Cydney Eva of PatternNation @cydeva @pattern.nation 

Clothing and Jewelry: PatternNation @pattern.nation www.pattern-nation.com

Photographer: Maggie Macpherson @maggiemacmedia www.maggiemacpherson.ca

Makeup Artists: Miel Enage @mmemakeup Keiko Hosoi @keiko.mua

Models: Kevin Fraser @warntheharbour Josh Ongcol @josheeong Natasha Morley @lowkeyclueless Dhia Mahmud @ddhia92 Travis Clifford @royaltravesty Alex King @alexjinhoking

Violet Visions

Violet Visions 💜 photography and visualart show at @openplanstudio Durban

for @firstthursdaydurban 💜💜💜

Violet Visions Collaborative shoot

model:@lex_lafoy

Edits, Body Paint, Jewelry and Mural: Cyd Eva @cydeva

Photographer: @llwellynmakhanya .

Intergalactic honey comb, violet visions asks you to let your mind drip, time trip and vibe kiff. This Durban based photo series plays upon purple and gold as royal colours, referencing Costa's track Purple Oceans and Lex LaFoy's track Honey Bass

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.