South African artist Xopher Wallace reveals his identity

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South African artist Xopher Wallace reveals his identity

The artist Xopher Wallace started with a recurring dream he had as a child.

In the dream he would speak to people around him, but they never engaged. Wallace realized that he was only a silhouette when he looked at his reflection.

In 2017 the South African visual artist decided to be anonymous, taking the alias Xopher Wallace and wearing goggles, a morphsuit and sweatshirt in his photographs in order to keep his real identity a secret. Being anonymous means that people can focus on his art and he can preserve his authentic character. In society I think we are under pressure to show the good side in our lives, whereas in my work I express even some of my negative feelings or feelings that make me feel uncomfortable, Wallace said.

Wallace said that having empty spaces is also dealing with an empty canvas, so I could decorate it as much as I want, adding that he can also include extra visual elements such as lights or smoke.

Wallace hosted an online exhibition called Inside Outside, where he invited other South African visual artists to showcase their work when the pandemic prompted nationwide lock downs, shutting down galleries across the country. Wallace said the event drew nearly 5,000 viewers on the first day.

Wallace has had the opportunity to expand the audience for his art, as well as to shine a light on other African digital artists because of the strength of his online presence.

He said that the times are changing. People are looking into investing in the virtual realm instead of physical spaces.