A grade 10 learner @ KwaDukathole Comprehensive School in Katlegong is ready to work for your favorite local soapie. Help him get there with this HashTag: #thapzthemakeupartist.
By Monica Kethwa/ Pictures by Thapelo Makhanya
Thapelo is a just a simple guy who loves fashion and has even created a fashion book with sketches of his latest fashion art concepts. He’s exposed to the to the art industry and follows latest fashion trends!
This Grade 10 learner in Kwadukathole Comprehensive School, Kahlegong developed a skill in special effects make-up artistry in 2018. After attending beauty therapies with his big sister Bokang Makhanya “I was intrigued at how they used make-up to transform my sister’s face. It was inspiring” Thapelo explained.
Away from school duties Thapelo usually practices his make-up skills by transforming his own face and take pictures.
You may think he’s face is burned or has suffered serious injuries; this is what they use in movies and soapies such as Generations.
His friends describe him as just a guy who loves helping people. He’s obsessed with promoting art as means to creating job opportunities.
When you think art normally people think poetry, performing art and drawings but not everyone thinks of Special Effects especially Make-Up.
Hence Thapelo has a dream of owning an art school so that township youth can invade the space. “Unfortunately my school doesn’t have a make-up subject. Instead I’m studying Science, Religion, Engineering Graphic Design and Maths. I would really love to study Special Effects Make-up Artistry as a career. I also have a passion for fashion” Thapelo concludes.
He’s most outrageous work is the Halloween make-up. He hopes that one day South African production houses can scout him and give him an opportunity to work on set during school holidays so that he can gain more experience.