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Front Row with Very Rare Franklin
- Khumo Kraai
- 4 hours ago
- 4 min read
Front Row with Very Rare Franklin
One common theme we hold dearly at FRM is community—understanding that it's within numbers, those around you and the sanctity of the relationships you build, which serve in achieving common goals. Very Rare Franklin has utilised the community and friendships he has harnessed in exhibiting his beliefs visually. When coming together with industry peers to curate atmospheric work—Franklin’s ability to separate their own creative ideologies to amplify that of brands and other collaborators is that of vigour.
I believe the task of creative directors can often be blurred—with designers, photographers and other artistic contributors servitude in bridging the gap between creating and executing conceptualised and synonymous work—it is often we don’t comprehend the power of the CD. Simply put, Very Rare is tasked with honouring the culture & vision of the client and within his personal work as well.
Within his work with Salthiel, built upon the ethos of Christianity—he conveys the message of walking with God, walking boldly and how within the act of prayer, “seeking divine guidance and strength presents the courage to face challenges and pursue greatness.”
Within his personal project—GFA V2—the meaning is personified further. 'Get Fly Again', exhibiting the urge for a growth, to return to ones true self, moreover the battle and resilience required to return to the home you’re meant to be enclosed within. He depicts an internal battle and the courage and strength necessary to rise from it—to escape a self imprisonment.
Would you mind telling us who you are and what you do?
VRF: I'M FRANKLIN—CREATIVELY KNOWN AS 'VERYRAREFRANKLIN'—AND I AM A CREATIVE DIRECTOR HAILING FROM THE HISTORIC HAVEN OF JOHANNESBURG SOUTH/EAST RAND.
Tell me more about Get Fly Again.
VRF: GFA IS A CREATIVE COLLECTIVE OF LIKE-MINDED INDIVIDUALS THAT SHARE THE SAME PURPOSE—TO RAISE THE STANDARD IN EACH OF OUR RESPECTED CREATIVE FIELDS. GFA IS COMPARABLE TO THE GALAXY FORMING, ALL THE STARS ALIGNED FOR THIS COLLECTIVE TO FORM. WE ALL BECAME FRIENDS BEFORE WE EVEN KNEW EACH OTHERS CAREER PURSUITS—A FOUNDATION BUILT ON GENUINE CONNECTION. GFA ISN'T JUST A COLLECTIVE, IT'S A REAL FAMILY. THE CORE MEMBERS CONSIST OF VERYRAREFRANKLIN, JEFFREYBRKN, SLXCK.93, HLENGIWELALA, MUDDB00Y, IVY.COUNTACH AND CASH CARLO.
With the creation of GFA where had you drawn your inspiration from?
VRF: WE JUST DREW INSPIRATION FROM CONFIDENCE AND JUST WANTING BETTER FOR OURSELVES. WE'RE NOT AN ORGANISED OFFICIAL COLLECTIVE. WE'RE FRIENDS FIRST AND ALL THE WORK WE DO TOGETHER HAPPENS NATURALLY. WE DRAW INSPIRATION FROM CONSTANT ELEVATION—THAT INSPIRES US TO CONTINUE RAISING THE STANDARD BECAUSE WE HAVE TO ELEVATE. WE HAVE TO GET FLY AGAIN.
Within your creation process what or whose perspective do you draw your inspiration from, do you tend to look internally or outwardly when curating the content you aim to share?
VRF: I DRAW INSPIRATION FROM MY OWN PERSPECTIVE AND AN INNER CALLING FROM GOD ALMIGHTY TO PUT THESE IDEAS OUT—I'M SIMPLY A VESSEL. MY IDEAS DERIVE FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCES THAT HAVE HAPPENED TO ME AND I SIMPLY COLLECT AND GATHER ALL THOSE EMOTIONS AND PLACE IT INTO THE WORK. ONE EXAMPLE IS A PROJECT I DID ALONGSIDE MY BROTHER HLENGIWE LALA TITLED 'AFFAIRS OF THE SKY'. THAT ROLLOUT WAS SIMPLY BASED ON A WITHERED ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIP THAT SIMULTANEOUSLY BOTH OCCURED IN OUR LIVES. OUTWARDLY—I DRAW INSPIRATION FROM THE CLOSE-KNITTED COLLECTIVE OF PEOPLE AROUND ME AND THE CITY THAT I COME FROM. THESE KEY FACTORS INSPIRE ME TO CARVE GREATNESS.
I feel we’re experiencing a slow, painful death of creation—especially within the alt industry. How have you seen Johannesburg’s current creative landscape?
VRF: JOHANNESBURG'S CURRENT CREATIVE LANDSCAPE IS AT A REVOLUTIONARY STATE AT THE MOMENT. CREATIVES IN THEIR RESPECTIVE FIELDS ARE FINALLY FLEXING THEIR MUSCLE AND IT'S EXCITING TO WITNESS. FASHION, MUSIC & ART ARE MERGING RIGHT NOW AND THAT'S A SIGN OF A NEW CULTURE SHIFT. THE STANDARD HAS INSANELY INCREASED AND HOPEFULLY PEOPLE CONTINUE TO COLLABORATE WITH THE INTENTION OF RAISING THE STANDARD SO GREATNESS CAN BE ACHIEVED—AND SO WE CAN SHOW THE WORLD THAT JOHANNESBURG ALSO HAS A MESSAGE. WE COME FROM A CITY OF CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE, IT IS OUR DUTY TO CONTINUE RAISING THE FLAG.
Knowing your affiliation to both the underground South African rap scene and the plethora of creative landscapes that surround us. Do you think community and servitude to the communities we exist in can be a way out of the grim state we find Joburg in, if not what is a way out?
VRF: COMMUNITY IS THE ANSWER. THE MOMENT WE LEAVE THE CRABS IN THE BARREL MENTALITY IS THE MOMENT WE WILL FIND SUCCESS. COMMUNITY FORGES SENSE OF SELF BECAUSE YOU ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR YOUR ACTIONS—IT IS YOUR DUTY AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER TO RESPECT THE MESSAGE OF THE COMMUNITY.
COMMUNITY MAKES YOU AWARE OF YOUR ACTIONS AND THE RESPECT YOU HAVE TO HAVE FOR THE PEOPLE THAT YOU SHARE THE ENVIRONMENT WITH. OUR GFA COMMUNITY CHERISHES RESPECT AND HONOUR—THAT'S OUR KEY VALUES AS A COMMUNITY.
Within your role as a director have you thought about the expansion of your productions through appealing to more sensory aspects within your craft?
VRF: YES I DEFINITELY HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT THE EXPANSION OF MY PRODUCTIONS BY LEANING MORE INTO THE ASPECT OF BUILDING WORLDS IN MAJORITY OF MY WORK. CREATING PRODUCTIONS THAT TAKE PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR CURRENT REALITIES AND TAKING THEIR MIND TO A DIFFERENT DIMENSION OR FREQUENCY IN THAT TIME THAT THEIR VIEWING MY PRODUCTIONS. THERE'S A PROJECT I RELEASED ALONGSIDE SLXCK.93 TITLED 'AGAINST ALL ODDS'—I MERGED A KNIGHT ERA THEME WITH NEW
AGED YNS ATTACKING A KNIGHT. THOSE TWO WORLDS SHOULDN'T MAKE SENSE BUT WE MADE IT WORK.
Thank you for speaking with us, lastly we’d love to know why’d you chosen to engage in this conversation with us?
VRF: BECAUSE I LOVE THE FACT THAT FRM IS DOCUMENTING FUTURE LEADERS AND FRM IS A PLATFORM FOR COMMUNITIES TO MERGE AND BE EXPOSED TO DIFFERENT FACETS OF ART. FRM IS COMMUNITY AND I STAND BY IT FULLY.
