IN THE HOT SEAT

THE South African National Defence Force hosts the Chief of the South African Navy Change of Command Parade at the Martello Sports Field in Simon’s Town. Vice-Admiral (Retired) Mosiwa Hlongwane handed over command of the SA Navy to Vice-Admiral Monde Lobese.

LOCAL Cape Town graffiti and mural artist Nadia Fisher (aka Nardstar) has brought a bit of Cape Town to Wakanda.

The artist was selected to be a part of the Marvel Artist Series and recently completed five pieces of art for exclusive merchandise for Marvel Studios’ Black Panther.

Nardstar is an artist on the rise, having done various international murals in New York and Paris, and local work for Converse, Woolworths and others featuring clear lines, vivid compositions and honest portraiture.

The artist is behind numerous murals around Cape Town focused on celebrating women of colour, animals and local fauna and flora.

The Marvel family invited Nardstar to put her unique and fresh spin on their exclusive merchandise for Marvel Studios’ Black Panther, and the work can be found on merchandise in Walmart stores worldwide and online.

The first Black Panther film was widely celebrated across the African continent for embracing a variety of African cultures.

The film’s sequel – Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – premiered in November and follows the fight to protect the fantasy Wakanda nation from intruding world powers in the wake of King T’Challa’s death.

“I felt it was a good fit for my work to be part of the official merchandise for the Black Panther Legacy series because the subject matter in my work aligns with the values in the Black Panther movie. I was drawn to the movies’ positive representation of people of colour and for having strong female characters,” Nardstar said.

The five illustrations include portraits of the Queen panther, Okuye, the head of the all-female Dora Milaje army, a Black Panther Mask, a pattern made up of the necklace that the Black Panther wears, and a graffiti-styled version of the Black Panther’s logo lettering.

“I think every client and project has different highs and lows and each project or campaign is its own unique experience. This is definitely high on my list of favourite projects, though,” Nardstar said.

Two Oceans Aquarium conservation and sustainability manager Helen Lockhart said: “When I came across Nardstar’s work I was immediately drawn to its vibrancy, boldness and clean lines. The fact that she is one of a handful of street artists in South Africa, coupled with her love for animals, made her the perfect fit for the Aquarium.”