ZACH ZONO
ARTIST
How the warm colours and bright memories of a South African childhood inspire the east London painter, and why you should dress up for work
“Being here has made me miss back home, and that's where the colours come from. So thinking back to my childhood, the memories and the vibrancy of South Africa reflects in the work.” Abstract painter Zach Zono is talking about what inspires his work - large, abstract paintings awash with deep reds, glowing pinks and burning orange. Born and raised in Cape Town, his current studio is a sharp contrast to this, tucked away in deepest East London surrounded by railway arches and abandoned cars. “Being here, where the seasons change so much, and sometimes it's dark, especially in the studio, I think that's where the colours in the work really shine. The contrast of London and Cape Town, that definitely affects the work.”
Born in 1999, Zono is self taught, didn’t attend art school and “kind of fell into the British art scene.” Despite this, his work has already generated huge critical acclaim and been exhibited from London to Cape Town, Beijing and Bangkok. When we meet he’s putting the final touches to a new show in Mexico City, but is also full of recommendations for where to find London’s creative energy. “Go to Fitzrovia and walk around. Go to Timothy Taylor's, that’s one of my favorite galleries. You can walk down to Savile Row, go to Hauser & Wirth, go to Pace gallery. Or come to East London and go to the Approach Gallery.”
Despite considering himself “not really part of any art clique” in London, Zono talks about his appreciation of British style. “When I think of British style, I think of Savile Row, tailoring, suits, coats. And I love summer, but I do love a winter outfit. Being able to layer different colors, different textures, and seeing how you can manipulate the outfit to your body. It's a way of expressing myself.” This extends to his day to day life while painting: “I like to dress up a bit for the studio. I'm not shy to get paint on a shirt or on a suit. And I think that's just part of the job. But if you dress up a little, then you feel good when you come to the studio. It really changes your mood.”
