#37: Tiisetso Moreki (Circles & Squares)
This week we are joined by creative professional, Tiisetso Moreki (tk.mrk), who tells us more about Acid Food & Wine Bar, Yizo-Yizo (1999), and more!
Tiisetso Khaudi Moreki (tk.mrk) is a creative professional with a passion for visual arts, sparked by fashion photography. A devoted sonics lover, T.K is always on the quest for new sounds and ways to connect with music. In addition to that, T.K has experience in TVC modelling and is also interested in social media marketing & creative directing — which he is actively pursuing through his involvement in the Circles & Squares project. This is a venture aimed at making life more bearable by creating/sharing sensory experiences which engage all 5 senses. Driven by intuition and a desire to inject value to the South African culture, T.K brings a wide range of skills and a highly adaptable energy to their work to make a positive impact wherever possible.
We welcome him to The FRM Newsletter to share what he’s been into recently.
🎀 Looking clean & good
My love for fashion is informed by looking clean and good, as 'letsatsantsa la Pitori' you ain't gotta do much to be much. With a wide-range of influences from how gangsters used to dress in the golden times — like the likes of the notorious Mashobane and Christopher Moltisanti, to being an uptown contemporary pantsula (brands like Goetze.xyz, Stussy, Wanda Lephoto, Kasi Flavour, Our Legacy & anything Le'Etiquette magazine). I'm also loving the age of ameliorating the African identity through Afrocentric fashion brands like Lukhanyo Mdingi and Wales Bonner. (my heart would be satisfied if the crossover does happen) On the more minimal side, I love Jil Sander, The Row and Uni Form. Ugh there's more to it, but you know, this the basis. Oh damn why would I forget my king, Alexander McQueen, I adore Lee more than the garments.
I suggest that you first take a listen to my first ever public mix LestWeForgetThatWeHadGoodTimes as it also serves as the basis of my taste in music; starting off with a voice note one of my best times on Earth, "VNs as art", by my OG Sara. Then there was the most depressive/ character-building/ regenerative time in my life where I expanded on my sound search; my body unlocked new ways to move/dance. A personally goated time whereby I discovered Dean Blunt, aka Babyfather, aka Blue Iverson, aka Hype Williams — I overstand why ASAP Rocky loves the guy. Oh and Boyz n Bucks, an important time too.
Moving right along, I met Zech, connected through music, and found love in a hopeless place at the time. I appreciate this homie — rare to find someone you relate with musically and they introduce you to new music and you vibe highly with it; that's how Circles & Squares came about and more to it. There's plenty layers to T.K's music taste, the more you meet people, the more you engage, the more you explore and keep an open mind, the more the more. Special mention to Likhona too, on the music basis.
🎬 Yizo-Yizo (1999), Jerusalema: Gangster’s Paradise (2008) & K.I.D.S (1995)
Let's first talk about how excellent Yizo-Yizo is, and how nothing South African-produced has surpassed it... Yeah... Teboho Mahlatsi's filmography/reel is important. Anyone that's able to capture the raw essence of South Africa and make it globally welcomed is a goat for me. So this takes me to Jerusalema: Gangster's Paradise; I don't have to say much about it, just watch it. At the top of my mind: La Haine, Fight Club, K.I.D.S (was a casting brief, enjoyed the job) and Their Eyes Were Watching God. I favour things because of the personal story that happened in relation to it.
📽 South African music videos
Intentional Super 8mm filmmakers, like Adriaan Louw for Riky Rick's I Can't Believe It music video. Then goats in S.A still, Mzonke Maloney and Imraan Christian just dropped the hottest music videos of the year thus far Maglera Doe Boy - The Suns Song & Desire Marea - Be Free respectively. I would also like to star for Bathandwa Ngwendu in the near future.
🖼 Art
The wanna-be art dealer in me has been compiling artworks that I'd like to collect when I ball. To make the list shorter, any art that FEDE likes I like, any art that Nkhensani Mkhari likes I like, any art Anelisa Mangcu likes I like. I really like how the players that I've mentioned move, forging spaces for us, challenging norms, making the art world reachable — given the quality of your work of course. More power to them and every black body that I have forgot to mention doing things that expand horizons for US. Oh, and I also have my eyes set on Amanda Wall, George Rouy, Shuang Li's Tears Don't Fall sculpture & Lynette Yiadom-Boakye.
🧵 Fashion films/visuals
The other series I've enjoyed: Entourage, Small Axe by Steve McQueen AND there are those collection of gems that reside in a special T.K's case, like Practice: A film by Grace Wales Bonner and Harley Weir, recently enjoyed Byredo's Bal d'Afrique 2023 film by Gabriel Moses, and any Lukhanyo Mdingi visual. I hope you get the gist of that special case.
📘 The Wretched of the Earth by Frantz Fanon
Hehe I can't really recall the books that I've read, but I normally hold onto the feeling that the books have made me feel. The one that's quite vivid within the constraints of my mind is ‘The Wretched of the Earth’ by Frantz Fanon. It made my positionality as the person that I am in the society a bit more clearer. That's why in this house it’s "f*ck colonisation". I also enjoyed the enlightenment I've received from ‘The Alchemist’ by Paulo Coelho, as we all did. Then the Bible... especially Proverbs.
Yooo Acid! If you haven't been there, you gotta make a plan to hit up the spot. The atmosphere, the vibe, the staff. I’ve only got good things to say about this joint. Jemma & Jes are angels on Earth. They make the freshest and tastiest oysters — you'd swear the bar is in a coastal town. The dumplings and the squid is to die for. The drinks, obvious! I'm still yet to try more of what they offer. And so far they be hosting cozy and warm events. So it's an addition. Stay tuned for more.