The Art Theme for THE BIG ISSUE #352, set by Director of the Vendor Art Programme, Elaine Millin, was inspired by music from Africa – allowing the melodies to spark the vendor’s imagination.
What happens when you let the rich, rythmic melodies of African music dictate the movement of the paintbrush? “Color is the keyboard, the eyes are the harmonies, the soul is the piano with many strings. The artist is the hand that plays, touching one key or another, to cause vibrations in the soul.” ~ Wassily Kandinsky
Solomon Masoso
The featured Vendor Artist is once again Solomon Masoso!
Solomon Masoso grew up in Zimbabwe, where he was a professional soccer player, playing for a local soccer club. He moved to South Africa in 2009 and joined the Big Issue in 2012. Before he joined the Big Issue he was not interested in art. His interest in art developed after attending the art classes at The Big Issue. He has since discovered a passion for painting.
Other than art, Solomon is a DJ and an international artist. He says that music is his calling. He was called to spread the gospel through music. He says that he has a number of certificates from studying the bible. Other than studying the Bible, Solomon is interested in studying. He studied a business management course where he was a top achiever in his class and has completed a course at St John’s.
His painting is titled: “A little bit taller”
These are the works of the five other artists featured in THE BIG ISSUE #352
Zukiswa Piti – Ball in the park
Mandisa Dyabooi – Mountains
Vathiswa Mbukushwe – Untitled
Richard Brophy – Untitled
Beauty Mjethu – Ndlovu
-
- Zukiswa Piti
-
- Mandisa Dyaboo
-
- Vathiswa Mbukushe
-
- Richard Brophy
-
- Beauty-Mjethu
Bridging the cashless divide
The Big Issue #342 introduced you to ‘Empowering South Africa’s informal economy with Tip4Change‘. You can do a good deed:
• Use QR codes to pay informal workers without carrying cash
• Keep apps like SnapScan or Zapper ready for small transactions
The cost of the artwork is R350.00 – R300 goes to the Artist R50 to the art programme.
To acquire a work E elainemillin.art@gmail.com. The work can also be see at the Noordhoek Art Point Gallery. “Pop in, have a look, and help support our local stars”
WHAT: Vendor Artists – THE BIG ISSUE #352
WHERE: Available from your favourite vendor across the city. Anyone outside the city of Cape Town can buy the magazine nationally at selected Spar and Pick n Pay stores. Anyone outside of Cape Town can also buy the magazine here.
Don’t forget: you can buy The Big Issue with your smartphone! Visit for a step-by-step guide.
INFO: E bigissue@mikatekomedia.co.za | Visit | Editorial: Editor Ingrid Jones, 021-461-6690 | Advertising/Marketing: Derek Carelse at derekcarelse@mweb.co.za
The WHAT, WHY & WHERE of the
arts scene in around Cape Town
see the 2026 art craft + museums map
and listen in to the
Arts Round Up on Fridays @12:45
on Fine Music Radio FMR 101.3fm
The FMR App makes it even easier to tune into the Arts Round Up on Fridays! i-Phone HERE | Android HERE
Another reason Cape Town is placed 3rd in Time Out’s World’s Best Cities for Culture!
