Behind the Faces : A Closer Look at Tasneem's Portraits Part 9

My mum is a petite, elegant woman with the biggest heart, ferocious loyalty and impeccable style. She gave me all the ingredients for the most enchanting childhood - gigantic bright birthday cakes, tubs full of paint and reams of paper to create, a garden filled with trees, flowers and an abundance of pets. As I grew up, she gave me support, acceptance and an openness which allowed me to piece together my own definite sense of self.

Behind the Scenes : A Closer Look at Tasneem's Portraits Part 8

Mum, thank you for teaching my heart to be kind, my mind to be fierce, my spirit to be brave and to live with grace.

-Chantal

Behind the Scenes : A Closer Look at Tasneem's Portraits Part 7

My mothers smile grows from her soul and roots itself on the visage to be reflected in her eyes

Grumbling from her strong heart, her laughter rises and escapes in a resonant roar

Her smile and laughter walk hand-in-hand in like close friends. Their jovial sound to echo in my heart forever.

-Tasneem

Behind the Faces : A Closer Look at Tasneem's Portraits Part 6

My mom died on the 9th of May, 23 years ago. Over the years it has been challenging to decipher, develop and distill the essence of who she was as a woman and who she was as my mother and what in turn, those qualities meant to me as I grew up and faced the challenges of what kind of woman I would be.

Here is what I know for sure:

In the 8 years that I knew her my mom was energetic, kind, charming, creative, ready to give her all while also trying to recognize when she needed re-fueling time on her own. She had her own colouring in book and special pencil crayons - she never lost touch with her need to release her creative spirit. My mom instilled in me the value of innovation, the idea that if you want something you simply have to create it - together we researched books on fairies, made life size butterfly wings out of cardboard and cellophane (which I still have) and decorated pot plants for Christmas (we're Jewish). She painstakingly wrote out my (6yr old) dictated stories to go with my carefully haphazard illustrations and characters.

Having her portrait painted for our KIN window has, for the first time in 23 years, made her seem like a part of a community again. Having her picture up there with some many other moms, gives her a present day context and so, in some way, has brought her back into the world - which for me is a gift that will last forever.

-Lindsay

This Fathers day, No more socks or jocks!

1. Wooden Bowtie by Tied Up, Ceramic Balaclava Bears by The Troll & Sootcookie, Big Five Lion Print by Patrick Latimer
2. Dippy Egg Board by Alice May Design
3. Darth Vader Print by Patrick Latimer
4. Triceratops Silver Tiepin by Eon Hoon
5. "Too cool for school" Charlie Brown by Nick Marcus
6. iPad Paper Sleeve by the Wren design
7. Skal Beer Glasses by Spookasem
8. Toy Soldier Cufflinks by Smith Jewellery
9. What to Watch Print by Alex Latimer
10. Leather KompaktII Wallets by Urban Africa, Owl & the Pussy Cat Laptop Sleeve by the WREN design
11. "Icarus" Tshirt by Mingo Lamberti
12. Beer Print by Jaco Haasbroek
13. Ceramic Bunny by Sootcookie
14. Ambigram Letterpress Print by judith+kevin
15. Buffalo Leather & Felt Journals by Wessel Snyman Creative
16. PPC Cement Laptop Bags by the WREN design

Behind the Faces : A Closer Look at Tasneem's Portraits Part 5

My mothers smile grows from her soul and roots itself on the visage to be reflected in her eyes

Grumbling from her strong heart, her laughter rises and escapes in a resonant roar

Her smile and laughter walk hand-in-hand in like close friends. Their jovial sound to echo in my heart forever.

-Tasneem

Behind the Faces : A Closer Look at Tasneem's Portraits Part 4

When I was 8 I told my mom she was eccentric. It was the first "big" word I had ever used and she was impressed that I had used it perfectly

- Eliana

Behind the Faces : A Closer Look at Tasneem's Portraits Part 3

There's no bigger love than a mother's, so with a grandma it's twice as much

-Fazlin

Behind the Faces : A Closer Look at Tasneem's Portraits Part 2

"You were right mama- about the problems that would work out, dreams that would come true and the unanswered prayers that would lead to bigger and better things. You were right about so much..."

- Tshego

Behind the Faces : A Closer Look at Tasneem's Portraits Part 1

Watercolour Portrait by Tasneem Kamies

My mother taught me TO MEET A CHALLENGE:
"What were you thinking? Answer me when I talk to you...Don't talk back to me!"

My mother taught me how to BECOME AN ADULT:
"If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up.

- Mimi

About this exhibition : KIN mums

This month we dedicate our windows to our beautiful mothers. Each Kin staff member, or 'Angel', chose their favourite picture of their mother-figure which inspired the watercolour glance peering from this window. Created by Taz, the smiling Angel you'll meet inside our Kloof Street Store, these portraits are instinctively guided by a technique of washes, drips and bleeds to create echoing images which resound in the soul.