It isn’t often that you hear someone describe themselves as troublesome but when you are the founder behind a cheeky brand like Vtsek Studios (pronounced voetsek), then it more than adds up.
Born and bred in Pretoria, Otsile Moumakoe is the brains behind the cheeky meme-based platform that fuses humour, fashion and music.
The graphics created by the 23-year-old artist are nostalgic images that capture past and present icons like Nelson Mandela, Michael Jackson and even Rihanna in today’s trendy streetwear brands.
Encompassing the humour found in the digital world of high fashion for SA audiences.
In his teen years, Moumakoe fell in love with hip-hop. His inspirations included Kanye West and the late Riky Rick.
Part of hip-hop’s principles is embedded in fashion which naturally pushed Moumakoe to follow the latest threads from beloved brands of the culture.
Looking to celebrate SA streetwear, Moumakoe created Vtsek Studios due to his concerns of how the country's scene has developed over the years.
Like many young designers, Moumakoe began his business by selling T-shirts and being a part of the rap scene.
Facing the frustrations that came with being a creative during the pandemic, he wanted to say “voetsek” to all the negative ideas of being an artist.
“It’s been quite overwhelming, I didn’t expect to be where I am right now,” says Moumakoe.
“People are responding quite well to it and some people even buy the artwork.”
What adds a unique spin to Moumakoe’s work is his ability to put these global superstars and billionaires in locations you would never expect, from Kanye West at a taxi rank to Nelson Mandela and Virgil Abloh kicking it back in Paris.
“I want people to see themselves in them the same way they do when they are on TV shining. I wanted to remind them that they can also be that successful one day.”
But this hasn’t stopped Moumakoe from including controversial figures like Jacob Zuma or celebrities that have been cancelled. Moumakoe’s intention with them is not to glamourise them but depict them in a manner that reflects who they are in his fantastical world.
“Zuma’s images are a statement piece. I did one where he wears a jacket that says “destroy today” and there is looting in the background. I do some of the pictures to really show people who that person is.”
Ultimately, Moumakoe wants to make SA cool again.
“I want people to embrace all the different types of people living in South Africa,” he says.
Moumakoe has lined up a number of collaborations for the year that will include art and fashion to begin in April 2022.
While he is still mum on them, he is also planning on branching into homeware which will incorporate the nostalgia of Vtsek Studios.
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