Djofray Makumbu
Cover, by Djofray Makumbu (2022)
Influenced by his own experience growing up, Djofray used his commission to give other young people a space to express the barriers they face in Cover, an animated short film, that shares the lived experiences of neurodiverse and deaf young people from Eastbury Comprehensive School in Barking.
As part of the project Djofray was mentored A Productions & ILM Productions.
Djofray Makumbu
My art is influenced by my life experiences and the world I live in. I struggled at school and because of my dyslexia I was told I would never succeed as an artist. My careers advisor told me to be realistic and that I’d be better painting walls for the council and that I’d never complete a University course. In spite of that I went to BSix college, did Summer School at Goldsmiths and got a place on the BA. It was hard because of my learning difficulties but I loved it and feel that I became who I wanted to be. The shame of dyslexia and the hiding that I have had to do to survive, the danger of gang violence , stabbing and drugs and the depression and misery this causes young people and their families. This is all subject matter for my work.
I believe that as an artist I shouldn’t limit myself with the work I create. I work with different types of techniques such as using flash motion, video, 3D/2D, drawing, photography, painting, clay animations and sculptures, I build sets and stitch garments for my characters. I find the process of making short films with different techniques together satisfying and interesting because I get to create what I envisioned in many different ways and styles.
