mandelak

[mandelak]

“Anime is anime. Does spaghetti stop being spaghetti because the Chinese chef at a New York restaurant wasn’t born and raised in Italy? Does Nujabes (RIP) stop being Hip Hop because he wasn’t born & raised in the South Bronx? These arbitrary, mutually agreed upon rules we create for ourselves to protect our identities, or our heroic image of ourselves, which I believe is what this is really about, are attached to these creative bodies of work that enables this defensive behavior. Depending on whom you talk to, “Anime” means one thing or another. “アニメ” (Anime) is just a Japanese short word for “アニメーション” (animation). It doesn’t stop being a Japanese word because a handful of passionate, keyboard gatekeepers refuse to acknowledge the Japanese language (due to decades of exposure to westernized descriptors from early journalists & licensors who marketed it as exotic) by “Othering” the Japanese word.” Full Forbes Article Here

[mandelak]

Random 01

They say the pen is mightier than the sword, but the pen is easily dulled by the lack of your own thoughts.

[mandelak]

Untitled Poem 5 - (by Mandela Jerome Komba)

We see what we want to see. In those we want to be. We block out the lies, so quick and so unwise. It's the strongest of us that get ensnared, powerful but unprepared. For the deceit of theirs who don't really care but act like they're there to be fair while we share, all our secrets and stories so unaware, of the harm they wish to cause, when instead we should pause, hold off with just a smile because in the end their guile, will show if we wait and listen for a while. So be cautious of those who are new in our path that pretend to be heroes in the light and but are demons in the dark.

[mandelak]

Untitled 4 - Poem (by Mandela Jerome Komba)

This was my first attempt at writing. Only posting it now. These poems are not being posted in any particular order. ------------- Falling and flying. Flying and falling. We at times fall in love with things that keep us stalling. It's hard to let go even when we're made to feel small and, we try to hold on when we know it's all broken. Why do we play games with those who are important? We trust the wrong people and hurt the ones we know, man. When we wake up and see the poison that's already been spoken. It's often too late because the trust has been frozen. So keep your ears open for words smooth like the ocean, cause the snakes are the ones that will keep you feeling broken.

[mandelak]

Untitled 3 - Poem (by Mandela Jerome Komba)

This one is a little more personal. Written in the perspective of my cousin who was shot and killed some years back. Hope you like it.

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Click, clack, BOOM,

Was the sound ringing through my eardrum, and in that instance I felt the fear,

Run,

Through my core like when thunder strikes and all you want to do is jump, under the covers, hope and wonder when the nightmare will disappear from, your mind.

YOU’RE MINE,

Is the next thing I hear,

Gun,

Pointed at my soul, body cold, now the tears come.

Fading from the light. No one in sight as my knees come,

Crashing to the ground, my screams loud, but no one hears them.

Fleeing from the scene is what is seen, so obscene, as the friends I once had deemed as my own pick up and leave. Running through my mind fleeting moments not foreseen. If I could just go back in time and relive what had already been.

I would,

Live, follow my dreams, and continue past the fiends, have a kid and live clean, away from the streets that would rid you like you had never been,

But,

In this moment, I stay glued to the floor,  seconds from deaths door, wishing to go back, unsure of what I lived for.

Numb to my surroundings, as my feelings are no more. Vision getting dark with a future no longer in store.

[mandelak]

Untitled 2 - Poem (by Mandela Jerome Komba)

She’s feeling broken and defeated.

She wakes and she knows what is needed, but she lays there while her soul keeps on bleeding.

She places trust in a body with no intentions of seeing, her for who she is but she kept on believing.

Deceiving, herself into thinking he was real and, so she let herself go, opened up to the feelings.

Emotions running deep while he kept on feeding, her with the guilt that if she left she’d be leading, a life with no purpose and no one to pick the pieces, of a woman who is lost, confused and mistreated.

Making her believe that a body’s what she needed. Done, sends her home in control of how she’s feeling.

No care of how she’s dealing, but of only what she’s giving.

Home sleep at night crying instead of healing, guilty and ashamed of the life that she’s been leading.

Although her heart is seeping, she wakes every morning goes to work and repeats it, unsure of what to do because her soul has been depleted.

[mandelak]

Untitled - Poem (By Mandela Jerome Komba)

The truth is we all feel hopeless. 

We stand around and focus on what others may be roasting, 

and forget to see the light within ourselves so we stand around joking. 

Hoping that something, somewhere will set us free, 

and pretend to be happy while the destruction continues internally. 

Lost and alone we band together form a home. 

Broken as it is, it keeps us falling off life's bridge. 

Although the pain continues we soldier on with a smile. 

Keep moving forward, is all we can do for a while. 

We know we should change for the pain to be rearranged, 

but the patterns are too familiar so we decide to stay the same. 

Complaining won’t fix it, but we do so anyway. 

Flying high with the tide, but moving at a snails pace.

[mandelak]

My man @trejsamuels has a pre-order link for his EP. Dropping soon! Be sure to show some love and cop it. You won't be disappointed!! #music #fridayvibes #fridayfeeling #listen #preorder #itunes #artist #MVP

[mandelak]

Find that one thing that gets you up in the morning and has you up all night. Work on that, and you will know happiness. #motivation #motivationalquotes #quote #daretobedifferent

[mandelak]

YES. Dick Rockets and all. 

[mandelak]

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A post shared by Mandela J Komba (@just.jerome)

Eager for the EP. Listen to Tre Samuels second single "Killer" from his EP 'Lost in Translation' So damn happy for my dude. I've deactivated my FB for now to focus, but I'll always support this guy in anyway I can! True inspiration! Keep an eye out on @trejsamuels because this is only the beginning. He has come so far!! #music motivation #inspiration #art #trueMVP

[mandelak]

[mandelak]

Completely foreign process to me. No idea what I'm doing but trying is better than not. #イラスト #スケッチ #フォロー #ラフ #art #artist #draw #drawing #practice #painting

[mandelak]

Done! Painting I have done of a great human. Reference used. @ekadarville Original Photo used as reference by Victoria Stevens #art #paint #painting #artist #artoftheday #artsy #illustration #illustrator #draw #drawing #ekadarville #australia #ラフ #フォロー #スケッチ #イラスト

[mandelak]

Very handy tip!

I usually don’t do tutorials because I’m not great at explaining stuff and I’m afraid of spreading misinformation, but I will sure as hell share a very useful art trick! Unless this is common knowledge, in which case I’ll shamefully return to my primordial cave.

[mandelak]

I’m teaching myself digital painting. This is the new approach I am currently taking. Seems to make it a lot easier to do. I have a lot to learn in capturing the likeness, but practice makes perfect!

Raven from The 100

[mandelak]

Funky update before I sleep. Not yet finished. But this (on right) is an experiment. Liking how it turned out. Painting of @ekadarville - An entirely new colouring style for me. Practicing to build on my current skill set. #practice #art #artist #artoftheday #draw #drawing #painting #ekadarville #digital #australia #イラスト #スケッチ #フォロー #ラフ