London street artist Lakwena Maciver uses words to impact and shape her environment. Known for her vibrant murals, those often feature empowering quotes and phrases. One mural reads: “Raise Your Hopes” another promises that “The Best Is Yet to Come.” “I think I’ve always used text and typography, even when I was a child,” recalled Maciver in an interview with Huck Magazine. “Words really interested me and I used to draw them a lot.”
“In terms of words that get me through the day, it’d definitely be The Bible – that’s also added to my understanding of the power of words,” she adds. “Naturally, I’m a bit of a pessimist so it helps to meditate on words of truth and encouragement.” According to Maciver, the artistic process itself begins with choosing the right words. “Before I even start painting a wall, I think a lot about the concept and what I want to communicate,” she explains. “I love the colors and the patterns and all that, but that’s almost secondary to what I want to say.”
“I once read this quote [by philosopher Calvin Seerveld] that said as an artist it’s important to ‘fire your art until it emits sparks that warm, or burn, those it reaches.’ And for me that how I see my work and my responsibility as an artist,” she concludes.
Follow her Instagram page for your motivational boost.
