#70: Lentle Ntlhaile
We're joined by dynamic artist, Lentle Ntlhaile, who tells us more about Pollacki shoes & hakama trousers, Les Misérables (2012), being a Renaissance Art babe, and so much more.
Lentle Ntlhaile is a dynamic artist from Klerksdorp, North West, now based in Cape Town. They are on a profound journey of self-exploration through art, weaving together fashion, visual art, writing, and dance to explore themes of identity, heritage, and personal growth.
Having grown up in Klerksdorp, their artistic journey began amidst the backdrop of conventionality, sparking a deep desire to break free and explore the rich tapestry of their heritage and personal narrative. Inspired by the resilience and creativity of black women that came before them, the way they see themselves is a mirror reflecting their strength and stories.
In addition to their creative pursuits, they are currently honing their skills as a fashion artist, working towards establishing themselves in a way that embodies their artistic vision and the essence of culture. They aim to explore themes of memory and belonging, alongside collaborations that aim to celebrate diversity and sustainability in the creative industry.
We welcome Lentle to The FRM Newsletter to share what they’ve been into recently.
👡 Personal Fashion
I love a good boot! Give me some Pollacki shoes, hakama trousers, and a snatched tank to show off my waist, and I’ll be happy. I'm super obsessed with gold jewelry—ears, nose, fingers, neck? Stacked! And of course, I have like a million pairs of shades; I never leave the house without at least two in my bag.
I wouldn’t say I have one specific style though; whatever I’m feeling that day is what I’m going for. Most days, it’s giving rockstar, then it’s soft NkaBae, Japanese apprentice, and sometimes cowgay realness.
Boutiques, my mom’s closet, thrifting—those are my three favorite places to source clothing.
🎵 Music
We have a very serious relationship over here—music and I. I could go on forever just talking about it. My super cool aunt introduced me to the likes of ABBA, Boney M, Bhudaza (he’s soooo goood!) and Letta Mbulu so I’m definitely an “old soul.” I listen to whatever frequency my life is at, and right now, I’m into afro-folk, retro pop, contemporary jazz, pop punk/rock and urban Latino. I’m also extremely emotional, so I listen to a lot of alternative, RnB, and neo soul.
Instruments! There’s something about strings that I adore, especially in classical music. I've curated a playlist entirely dedicated to the cello and bass guitar. one makes me feel like a swan, while the other? an absolute badass.
Top recommendations:
Bhudaza - "Bo-Mapefane"
Bhudaza - "Khera"
Muneyi - "Makhulu"
Willow - "Marceline"
MGK, YUNGBLUD & Travis Barker - "I Think I’m OKAY"
Medium Build - "Stick Around"
Teezo Touchdown - "Mood Swings"
ABBA - "Andante, Andante"
🖼️ Art
I'm such a Renaissance babe, it’s not even up for debate, lmao. I really think art was in its prime during that era! A cute combination of history and culture by the holy trinity: Sandro Botticelli, Michelangelo, Leonardo Da Vinci. It truly doesn’t get more satisfactory than that for me.
I’m also into expressionist and contemporary abstract art that explores themes of identity, culture, and personal narrative. I die for somber palettes, rough brush strokes, and just the overall realness and nostalgia; looking at this type of art makes me feel like I’m feeling what the artist is portraying.
Honorable mentions:
Georg Baselitz / "Oberon" (1963)
Edvard Munch / “Anxiety” (1894)
Rae Klein (literally everything)
Sangduck Kim
Daniel Ochoa
Lars Elling / “Nymph Satyr” (2017)
🎥 Film
I always try and understand criminal behaviour through documentaries and psychological thrillers, so if i’m watching anything? it’s that. On days I don’t feel too good, I dive into raunchy comedies and early 2000s comedy… starting with Shrek 2!
As a real lover it shocks me that I can’t stand romance films at all. Instead, I indulge in a lot of fantasy and adventure films. Mythologies are truly an escape from the mundane. Musicals are totally my thing; I still stand in front of the TV and learn the choreography to this day!
Historical films are also too good. A big part of why I like them might be the outfits (clothes really used to clothe!) and the interior design of their homes, aside from them being educational, of course.
My recommendations are:
Les Misérables (2012)
The Mummy (1999)
The Lovely Bones (2009)
The Danish Girl (2015)
The Bad Seed (2018)
Ready or Not (2019)
The Platform (2020)
📚 Books
I’m a writer who hates reading anything that isn’t Shakespeare or self-improvement books. Everything else, I feel like I can just stream, tbh. I prefer to see colour and things moving, like a toddler, rather than reading static text in 12-point Times New Roman (no shade to her).
🥘 Food
I keep it simple. On most days I prefer to eat roasted vegetables and protein, fried rice and beef chow mein. I actually need those meals to release me from their shackles…
If we’re outside, I’m most likely to indulge in Greek food. I’d usually order a bunch of tapas (all of them) to share with whoever I’m with. Top recommendations include fried halloumi cheese, brinjal stack, soutzoukakia (meatballs), fried calamari, falafel and loaded hummus. There’s also Italian cuisine with a dry white wine and literally everything from Istanbul kebab.
✈️🌱 Travel and Lifestyle
Travel:
I don’t travel much around the country. However, I’ve been to Namibia, Botswana, Vietnam, and China. I mentioned that I love culture, so I’d love to backpack through Asia, visit Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, and many other African countries.
Lifestyle:
A balanced diet is the first important thing to me; it improves my overall mood and has made the relationship I have with my body more symbiotic.
Mindfulness is also a priority, so I start each day by practicing yoga and meditation. Life is crazy stressful, so we have to stay grounded.
I try to stay active through dance, evening walks, and hiking regularly.