Words: Lara Pacillo // Main photo: @_facesonfilm
Artwork by local talented creatives will be on view at The Mill this Sunday, while live music and contemporary dance performances play out alongside.
Despite their different disciplines of self-expression, all creatives involved share a common goal: to nurture their inner child. It’s an acknowledgement of creating with fearlessness, vulnerability, and playfulness, explains 20-year-old Shabani Binyangi, who is the mind behind the event, and it’s an energy that can be somewhat suppressed as we grow up.
“We definitely get lost in the world as we get older,” he explains.
“We see other people doing other things, and then we feel this pressure of ‘what am I doing right now to catch up to what the people around me are doing.’
“You really start questioning yourself, and you can get lost through that. And then sometimes you just confine into what society is pressuring you to do, instead of following the dreams you’ve had.”
Shabani aims to push against this conformity and encourage self-compassion through remembering the childlike energy within.
The exhibition includes pieces by artists Pia, Matthew Shaw, and James Bennett. Contemporary dancers Prosper, Nandini Rajagopal, and Joyscasari will perform, while musicians include WaiKid and Barnabas Johnson, among others.
They’re all artists who inspire Shabani and encourage him to dive deeper into his current outlet as a creative director, while he’s also delved in modelling.
When he was a child, Shabani tells he would often try out new things, but was quick to jump on to the next interest, hesitant in going all in. It wasn’t until he grew older and developed more self-awareness of this, that he was able to realise that fear of failure, and overcome it.
“Whenever I try to create anything now, I just think about how I can stop worrying about all these other things that could go wrong and just focus on the things that I could do right, and hopefully, create something that even one person gets inspired by,” he says.
“Hopefully, they can do something bigger and maybe much better than what I’m doing.”
The exhibition is the third event that Shibani has held to highlight local creatives and as a member of Steelo Flow collective. Made up of a group of seven, each member often leads their own events, but is supported by the others who each have their own creative endeavours.
In August last year, he hosted ‘question everything’ runway, showcasing work by young local designers. A few months earlier in May, his ‘open in a form’ event was a live panel discussion to bring together a creative community.
“It’s just really about encouraging that creative wave in Adelaide, and hopefully, other people can feel more confident to break out into the scene too.”
For those who want to start their creative journey, Shabani says there will never be a perfect moment. Putting less pressure on it and just doing is his advice.
“There are times where society can challenge you, but it’s just about how you can embrace that inner child, that freedom, or even that fearless energy to not confine within.
“Just keep creating – that’s definitely the biggest thing that I will say to myself. Just create, and then let the world guide you with opportunities that you get.”
Nurture Your Inner Child: Sunday April 16 // The Mill 154 Angas Street Adelaide 5000
