Exhibition: "The Goddess Within" Featuring Botswele Mogotlane and Jelani Cleghorne

• The Goddess Within •

Sometimes we collapse. 

Sometimes we crumble. 

This is not our destruction.

This is our Birth.

Our Growth is Infinite.

Our (Re)Birth is Inevitable.

f e a t u r i n g 

Jelani Cleghorne @jetsavvy
Botswele Mogotlane @botswele

m u s e s
Monique Sypkens @sunflowrrchild
Linda Tembe @miss_lee_leila

I love the woman I am. I love the way I'm so comfortable in my own skin. 
I love my hair, eyes, nose, my big ears , breast every part that makes me, me. 
I love how my imperfection doesn't define me but makes me unique. 
I love that I can be myself in any situation but still adapt in my environment. 
I love the fact that even after all I've been through and still going through 
I can still keep a positive spirit. I love that I dream bigger than my failures. 
I love that I always go for the things I want because I believe in myself. 
Well mostly I love me because after God the only person I have to push is me. 
And I can only do my best when I am myself.

Linda Tembe captured by Botswele Mogotlane

"My birthday is January 15th, Martin Luther Kings birthday, I am the dream." 

I recited this before I even understood what it meant. Sharing a birthday with MLK 

and being half black and half white just gave me a sense of importance and purpose 

at a young age... I've always been someone to think very highly of others and their abilities. 

I just want people to understand how valuable and important they are.

Monique Sypkens, captured by Jelani Cleghorne

I cry every year on my birthday, tears of joy, humbled by God's grace,  

giving me yet another year to breathe, to live, to learn, to share.

Linda Tembe captured by Botswele Mogotlane

 

I've probably been camping 12 times in the past 4 years. 
I feel the most at ease and "at home" when I'm disconnected 

from technology, climbing trees, and swimming in some 

random lake in the middle of a forest. 

Monique Sypkens, captured by Jelani Cleghorne

I have a very beautiful and unique smile... It's a smile that is warm and welcoming. 

It's a smile that is contentious. When you're young and different, you are made to feel 

like what you have is wrong or you don't belong.  I  have a wide smile and for a long 

time I felt like it was the wrong way to smile. But I soon learned that your smile should 

come from the heart. And the things that make me smile are the things my girlfriend 

does for me like telling me how beautiful I am and what I mean to her she is a woman 

of little words but when she does share it, it makes me smile.

Linda Tembe and Brownie Karabo captured by Botswele Mogotlane

 

According to me, the purpose of life is to stay connected 

and worship our Creator and navigate your life based on Her ordained guidance...

To love others with abandon whether that be through your art, your service, your 

friendship, your honesty...And through doing that, you get as close as possible to 

holiness, to Jesus, and to heaven right before you actually make it there.

Monique Sypkens, captured by Jelani Cleghorne

For me life is simply a gift from God. 

I believe that it is given to us for a reason beyond our control, 

hearing my heart beat scares me at times more then it makes me happy,

knowing that it's the only thing keeping me alive is heart warming.

The purpose of life is to live. Be present in your own soul , spirit , mind , body... 

be present in your life and be who you believe you want to be 

and do that to the fullest.

Linda Tembe captured by Botswele Mogotlane

Nice to Meet You Monique Sypkens • Dare to DREAM Series

I just hope to exhaust every potential and talent that I have, which will 

hopefully make people more generous, empathetic and connected. 

- Monique Sypkens, 916, city of trees! Sacramento
Photo, courtesy of Jelani Cleghorne

• T H E   I N T E R V I E W • 

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If there was a movie produced about your life, who would play you and why?

I would play me. hahahaa. psshh that'd be a great movie I wouldn't want to pass up that opportunity. 

What do you love about yourself?

That I can be real with myself about the things I don't like about myself and actively change them. 

Name two people who influenced your journey thus far 

I'm going to take the unforeseen route because I could write a book about how much my parents influenced and blessed my life so far....So instead, I was born on January 15th and when I was a child, my mom taught me to reply to the question "How old are you?" with "I am ___years old. My birthday is January 15th, Martin Luther Kings birthday, I am the dream." I recited this before I even understood what it meant. Sharing a birthday with MLK and being half black and half white just gave me a sense of importance and purpose at a young age.

Another person, would be Maria, or Julie Andrews in The Sounds of Music. The song "Confidence" taught me A LOT as a young girl, to keep treading forward no matter the circumstance. I wrote a whole essay about this once...But also, I think watching musicals, this one in particular, made me love acting, television and theatre. I would act out the scenes with my brothers and I guess I never stopped.

Captured by Jelani Cleghorne

What have you been reading lately?

"True Notebooks" by Mark Salzman and "The Wait" by Devon Franklin & Meagan Good. "True Notebooks" is super dope, my boyfriend recommended to me and it reminded me of a book that I love "Tattoos on the Heart" by Greg Boyle (founder of Homeboy Industries) and I just really have a heart for the injustices in our prison system, being able to read from the mouths of kids inside the juvenile facilities is a special privilege, it makes me happy books like this give them a voice. And "The Wait" is interesting, being a Jesus loving woman, its definitely an encouraging read and I think helpful in my walk with Christ. Also picked it up because Devon Franklin's "Produced by Faith" still encourages me today as I navigate the film industry. 

What are the three destinations of your dreams?

Galapagos Islands. Tree Houses and rain forests in Costa Rica. Holland/Switzerland because my family crest is in a church window there. 

How would you describe your fashion style?

Well. I shopped at goodwill for the past 10 years of my life, against my will at first, and then it became "the thing to do"...so I like to wear things that I don't think other people have, but I also like to be comfortable so I don't know...depends on the day. 

Captured by Jelani Cleghorne

Tell us two things that make you smile.

1) Camping. I've probably been camping 12 times in the past 4 years. I feel the most at ease and "at home" when I'm disconnected from technology, climbing trees, and swimming in some random lake in the middle of a forest. 

2) Helping people realize their potential. I've always been someone to think very highly of others and their abilities. That wasn't the best attribute to my dating life at first, haha, but now I teach middle schoolers and this one girl was totally checked out because I asked her to write some poetry for me. She was complaining that she didn't know how and didn't want to sound stupid etc etc....After working with her on some poetry for a mere 15 minutes, she was boasting with joy and telling me how happy it made her to be able to write poetry, that she had butterflies because she never realized she was capable... I just want people to understand how valuable and important they are.

What are your two favorite quotes of the moment?
"I know who I am and I know Whose I am"

 "Being vulnerable doesn't make you weak, it makes you true" 

Tell us one pleasant thing people would be surprised to know about you. 

Well...about a year ago I got accepting into Harvard's MFA program (laugh) and didn't go. No regrets. But really, what an accomplishment and compliment right?

For you, Art is...

...necessary. Therapy. Revolutionary. Vulnerable. Freeing. Art has to cost you something.  

According to you, what is the purpose of life?

To stay connected and worship our Creator and navigate your life based on Her ordained guidance...To love others with abandon whether that be through your art, your service, your friendship, your honesty...And through doing that, you get as close as possible to holiness, to Jesus, and to heaven right before you actually make it there.

Connect with Monique Sypkens here: @sunflowrrchild
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The Nice to Meet You Interview is Aile Rėve's signature. It is our way to soulfully connect with the artist and visionary. The NTMY allows us to take off for a voyage into the furthest reaches of their mind, with love, humility, and poetry.

Anaëlle Naná Moon Oyå
Mermaid-in-Chief @AileReve 

Nice to Meet You Linda Tembe • Dare to DREAM Series

My biggest dream is to have a career that allows me to travel the world. 

Travelling has always been a part of my life, I'm always looking 

for ways to grow, learn and see and  experience for myself how others live. 

My dream in life is what we call "life". And good food :)

- Linda Tembe, South Africa
Photo, courtesy of Botswele

• T H E   I N T E R V I E W • 

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If there was a movie produced about your life, who would play you and why?

Taraji P. Henson. Why? Because she is simply an amazing actress; in every role she undertakes, she wins hearts . For me I truly believe she would do a great job playing me; her features are God's way of embracing a woman.

What do you love about yourself?

I love the woman I am. I love the way I'm so comfortable in my own skin. I love my hair, eyes, nose, my big ears, my breasts, every part that makes me, me. I love how my imperfection doesn't define me but makes me unique. I love that I can be myself in any situation but still adapt in my environment. I love the fact that even after all I've been through - and still going through - I can still keep a positive spirit. I love that my dreams are bigger than my failures. I love that I always go for the things I want because I believe in myself. Well mostly I love me because after God the only person I have to push is me. And I can only do my best when I am myself.

Name two people who influenced your journey thus far 

Firstly my late mother is the biggest influence in my life even though I never got the opportunity to meet her. She is in my heart and by my side all the time. A part of me feels like a knew her my whole life. I have always imagined and dreamt about the relationship we would have had. Just traveling the world and experiencing things together. In all I do she is my motivation to do my best because I always wanted to make her proud,  I am my mother's daughter. It's the smile I alway get when she touches my heart.

Secondly Karabo my partner. Even though she's quiet and keeps to herself which is totally the opposite of my personality but that's what makes her so special.  She gets me, she has taken the time to know me better and that's how she has showed me that there is more to life than having a big crowd that doesn't serve your best interest. She pushes me to go after my dreams and do what makes me happy. She is always there to lift me up when I am falling apart. My source of joy.  She always tells me to look at the bigger picture and to run after it no matter how long it takes or how hard it is.

What have you been reading lately?

Hillary Rohde's "The Other Side", and more of life-changing books and stories that make you to think and question.

What are the three destinations of your dreams?

• Kenya 
• Amsterdam
• Brazil

How would you describe your fashion style?

Well I don't follow any known trend. My fashion style is what I wake up as every morning, it's the mood of the day, my feelings and my emotions.  I don't work hard to look different but I don't seem to fit in with anyone.  I love simple but noticable.  Chilled but beautiful. I love colors that calm me down, therefore I choose colors that don't scream out or that look depressing.  I believe that every approach is influenced by your appearance so I starve to look approachable but in a respectful way.  I wear my confidence in everything, I don't like being confined by society I wake up in my skin and hair every day.  I am my fashion style. 

Tell us two things that make you smile.

I have a very beautiful and unique smile... It's a smile that is warm and welcoming. It's a smile that is contentious. When you're young and different, you are made to feel like what you have is wrong or you don't belong.  I  have a wide smile and for a long time, I felt like it was the wrong way to smile. But I soon learned that your smile should come from the heart. And the things that make me smile are the things my girlfriend do for me like telling me how beautiful I am and what I mean to her she is a woman of little words but when she does share, it makes me smile.

The other thing is when I look at a photo of myself that I took or taken by my photographer and it tells a story I never knew about me, when it shows me parts of me I never thought were there. When it tells me my life story and reminds me where I'm from and where I'm going. I'm always smiling but those are the things that make me smile from my heart.

What are your two favorite quotes of the moment?

Be the energy you want to attract from the book called "Secret".

God's timing is always perfect, from the Bible.

Tell us one pleasant thing people would be surprised to know about you. 

I cry every year on my birthday, tears of joy, humbled by God's grace,  giving me yet another year to breathe, to live, to learn,  to share.

For you, Art is...

Art is the eye, mind and heart as one. Art is the only thing that all three things can agree on.  Art is when your eyes capture an image and send it to the brain where it is explained logically then the heart explains it emotionally. Art is my imagination, it is what I want it to be when I want it to be.  I am art.  Art in so many ways and forms. My heart is art.

According to you, what is the purpose of life?

Wow what a deep question.       

For me life is simply a gift from God. 

I believe that it is given to us for a reason beyond our control, hearing my heart beat scares me at times more then it makes me happy,  knowing that it's the only thing keeping me alive is heart warming. Purpose of life is to live.  Be present in your own soul, spirit, mind, body... be present in your life and be who you believe you want to be and do that to the fullest.

Connect with Linda Tembe here: @miss_lee_leila
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The Nice to Meet You Interview is Aile Rėve's signature. It is our way to soulfully connect with the artist and visionary. The NTMY allows us to take off for a voyage into the furthest reaches of their mind, with love, humility, and poetry.

Anaëlle Naná Moon Oyå
Mermaid-in-Chief @AileReve 

Nice to Meet You Magda Lewicka, Kraków (Poland) • Dare to DREAM series

The biggest dream of my life is to become an architect 
and (at the same time) be a person who inspires others (somehow).

-Magda Lewicka, Kraków (Poland)
Photo: Magda Baraniak

Visualizing the solid foundation on which we can build our dreams, our life, our future. The essence of an architect is to design, to make, to manifest... An empty room is a story waiting to unfold, and you are the creative mind, the designer, the life giver. It was really nice to build with you Magda! Welcome to the D.R.E.A.M. Team.

• T H E   I N T E R V I E W • 

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Two things that make you smile. 

1. Maybe this is not a thing but... my brother makes me happy, everytime, whenever I see him, whenever I talk to him, yay!

2. Maybe you won't believe me but fashion makes me happy as well. I love exploring new trends, new look, new cool outfits, and of course, new designers. I spend a lot of time on the internet, looking for fashion news. 

What music have you been listening on repeat lately?

"Shine" from Years and Years.



What is your favourite spot in Kraków.

I don't have like... one favourite spot, I just basically love quiet places like small coffee shops or book shops for example. <3

Your three dream destinations.

First, I'd love to visit California one day, San Diego maybe, just to see how the American Dream feels like. Then Sweden. I don't know, there's just something really interesting in that country. The people, the culture, everything. The third one would be Paris. This is rather obvious, haha! Fashion is the main reason of course. I would have to save a lot of money to go shopping there, but who cares! :)

Photo: Magda Baraniak

How would you describe your fashion style?

My clothers are hm... rather casual. I love plain black t-shirts, and comfortable sneakers to be ready for every adventure in my life. 

Two things you could never leave home without. 

My mobile phone of course... and headphones!

What are your two favourite quotes of the moment?

"When you talk, you are only repeating what you already know. But if you listen, you may learn something new." 

"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened."

Tell me one thing people would be surprised to know about you.

OMG. I don't know. I hate human feet. They are so disgusting, aren't they? 

For you Art is...

A way to express my feelings but also a way to understand someone, see the world in the way they see it. 

According to you, what is the purpose of life?

The purpose of life is to be happy as much as possible and to be good to everyone in your life - doesn't matter if it's your friend or enemy. The purpose would be also to feel the joy of every little thing that happens in your life, to be proud of yourself no matter what you have achieved during this short stay on the Earth. 

Photo: Magda Baraniak

Connect with Magda Lewicka here: @magdalewicka
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The Nice to Meet You Interview is Aile Rėve's signature. It is our way to soulfully connect with the artist and visionary. The NTMY allows us to take off for a voyage into the furthest reaches of their mind, with love, humility, and poetry.

Anaëlle Naná Moon Oyå

Mermaid-in-Chief @AileReve

Mermaid of the Month: Sylkie Sly, Make-Up Artist Visionnaire | Aile Reve Interview

For me, the purpose of life is to live unconditionally in harmony with others without judgment; working together as a collective and shy away from individualism!  It is a very idealistic way of looking at things, but if we become motivated to make small changes around us and focus on real priorities,  it can have a major impact.

Sylkie Sly, Montreal, Canada

© Radu Juster Photography

Like everything else in the world, the intentions behind the energy you put into your craft makes the whole difference. With Sylkie Sly, make-up is meant to magnify the beauty that already exists. Make-up is an art of precision that can actually transform the mind, body, and soul. Yes, darling, it changes, and in the vibrant and scintillating waves of change, Sylkie Sly found her true direction. 

Whether it is for a fashion show or a special event, Sylkie Sly is one of those rare precious queens who can uplift and empower with the tip of her brush. She gives life to her vision and if you have a concept in mind, she will give it colourful wings.  A wand with soft hair chose her and she wears her passion with grace, love, and confidence. What you see is what you get; a fearless woman of substance. Her make-up does not hide her lovely humour, intelligence and strength. Nice to meet you darling! 

• T H E   I N T E R V I E W • 

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Two quotes every visionary should live by? 

"What you think, you become. What you feel, you attract. 
What you imagine you, you create."  
-Buddha    

Compliment people: Magnify their strengths, not their weaknesses. 

You never leave home without....
My cell phone is my personal agenda and connection with the world!  Losing it equals to drug removal therapy (how do you call that I forgot the actual name for that) for me ;)

Tell us two things that make you smile.
My daughter's silly jokes are so innocent;  sometimes they catch me off guard!  Her innocence makes me smile, her amazement at little things I usually take for granted...

How would you describe your fashion style? 
I have a very eclectic style;  I love to be daring and different!  Funky ethnic prints, bright accent colours, comforting earth tones...  I prefer unique classic pieces that I can mix and match.

If you had to wear one nail colour, which one would it be? 
Is that even possible?  I guess it would be a gold-lime type of color!

One pleasant thing we would be surprised to know about you?
I have played classical piano for many years during my youth and was fortunate to showcase my talents at many recitals.  I really appreciate the effect classical music has on my soul

According to you, what is the purpose of life? 
For me, it is to live unconditionally in harmony with others without judgment; working together as a collective and shy away from individualism!  It is a very idealistic way of looking at things, but if we become motivated to make small changes around us and focus on real priorities,  it can have a major impact.

Connect with Sylkie Sly via @SylkieSly & website

Photo, Courtesy of Sylkie Sly

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Naná Moon Oyå

@AileReve