Music is just one piece of the puzzle, TAPZ also paints for practice, and is influenced by Jean-Michel Basquiat and the Zimbabwean style of Weya art
US-based Zimbabwe-born artist, musician, producer and model Tapiwa Mutingwende popularly known as TAPZ GALLANTINO graces the latest cover of 10 Men Australia, Issue 20, a quarterly British luxury niche fashion magazine similar to Vogue and Vanity Fair. "Here is one for you, Zimbabwe," he says in a DM to this writer.
In the cover story, TAPZ reflects on his creative journey from his humble beginnings in rural Wedza, Zimbabwe to Wellington, New Zealand where he moved with his parents at age 10, to the USA where he is now based.
Tapz wears Louis Vuitton AW22 throughout and is photographed by Elliott Morgan and styled by Roxy Lola. "The cover for 10 Magazine is TAPZ GALLANTINO. And I’m in Virgil’s final collection, with the nod from Louis Vuitton. My first cover and cover story. Thank you." he shares on Twitter. "Virgil Abloh lives on through us, you innovated how the world looks and means for us. Thank you timelessly," he says in another post.
In the cover story, TAPZ reflects on his creative journey from his humble beginnings in rural Wedza, Zimbabwe to Wellington, New Zealand where he moved with his parents at age 10, to the USA where he is now based.
TAPZ grew up in Wedza, Zimbabwe, “in a very rural place – the fact that I’m even here right now makes very little sense” before moving with his family to Wellington, New Zealand, at the age of 10. “I’m a walking culture clash, that’s why my art is the way it is,” he says. “We’d listen to a lot of traditional Zimbabwean music, a lot of Bob Marley, too. Some Michael Jackson and Prince, but I never really understood English, I just felt the music. In New Zealand, it was punk rock.” With his debut album All For What set to come out towards the end of the year, Tapz now resides in Los Angeles, where he currently feels most empowered, because “ultimately, I’d rather be Black in America than be Black in NewZealand. At least here I’m not alone.”
Music is just one piece of the puzzle, TAPZ also paints for practice, and is influenced by Jean-Michel Basquiat and the Zimbabwean style of Weya art. His other labour of love is a newly established incubator for independent creatives, SocialCrucifixion Co-founded with his second cousin Kudzai Taziva.
Visit 10 Men to read more about the story.
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