Today we’d like to introduce you to Dumisani Jere.
Hi Dumisani, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Dumisani Jere, founder of DEVOLUTIONERY (PTY) LTD, is a contemporary interdisciplinary artist and former associate, Drawing & Narrative 1st year lecturer. He was born in Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa, in 1991. He studied at the Open Window Institute, an independent art and digital sciences school based in Pretoria, where he obtained a BA Degree in Visual Communication Design in 2017. His work draws inspiration from Afrocentric meta-modern mythology in relation to global postmodern sociologies. Jere experiments and explores these themes in various audio and visual, illustration, motion design, painting, and digital mixed media. That seems to be juxtaposed to the subjective self, reawakened by the dawning of individualism unraveling within the current state of collectivism and social distancing.
The Visionary was held in 2014 at Grayscale Gallery, and the second solo exhibition, iD_Visual Art Exhibition, was held in 2016 at the Cape Town-based Priest Gallery in partnership with the I Makers Foundation, Pretoria-based at Railways Café, and in 2022 was exhibited at the SA Theatre State. Jere co-founded and has been involved in several independent group exhibitions with Victoria Yards as a curator. His practice portrays detailed depictions of the transformation within the Afro-futuristic objective self’s introspective relation to the other. Currently, I’m based at August House and represented by the following art institutions, such as Lizamore and Associates, Latitudes Online, and NO END Contemporary. As well as being the global top10 finalists, my video artwork documentary short film entitled Syncopation will be promoted in all the Visual Art Awards (VAA) events in Italy and in South Africa, and the Top 5 Fak’ugesi awards 2023 & 2024, music nomination, and this year’s official featured theme song. 2025 Fak’ugesi Festival visual poster open call winner and guest speaker.
I’m currently represented for commission work by the Humusha Creative Hub, hosted by the SA Research Chair in Science Communication, which is in partnership with VANSA and the Stellenbosch Department of Journalism. The Arts & Culture Trust official winner of the 2023 ACT Nyoloha T-shirt merchandise collaboration competition. Lastly, I was the assistant curator in 2023 for the group exhibition “Choice Assorted,” A South African symbol of gathering that makes reference to the nostalgia of congregation. Imbued with its own archive of memory and feelings for each person. It is from the conversations over tea and something sweet that we educate, fortify ourselves, and ultimately create. Our first moments of congregation as a group were marked by choice assorted biscuits, during tea breaks, four months ago. It is human nature to seek connection, to find relatable elements to foster that connection. As an emerging artists community is a vital part of our practices, the foundation upon which we build. From connection and community, we draw support, inspiration, and guidance. “Choice Assorted” marks the culmination of “The Business of Being an Artist”, a professional practice course run by the META Foundation, Art Source South Africa, and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom. This project reframes uncertainty – not as a problem to be solved, but as a condition to be understood. It argues that migrants help shape urban life, not burden it, and that Africa may offer the clearest map of future cities. The Atlas of Uncertainty brings together more than 30 artists from Accra, Johannesburg, and Nairobi for an exhibition that challenges how we understand migration, urban Africa, and the world’s future cities. It’s part of an interdisciplinary collaboration that’s remapping migration and urban spaces across the continent. The exhibition is where it all begins at the Origins Centre, Wits University & University of Oxford from 18 April – 3 July 2026.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Technological Advancements and Rapid Changes: The field of multimedia is dynamic, with constant technological advancements and changes. Companies need to invest in training their employees to keep up with the latest tools and software, which can be expensive and time-consuming. High Initial Costs: Setting up a multimedia production studio or acquiring advanced equipment can be costly. Small or new companies may struggle to afford the initial investment required to compete effectively in the industry. Global Competition: The rise of online platforms and remote work has increased global competition. Creative multimedia companies must compete not only with local businesses but also with international ones, making it challenging to stand out. Intellectual Property Issues: Copyright infringement and intellectual property concerns are common in the multimedia industry. Companies need to navigate complex legal issues, potentially leading to legal battles that can be expensive and time-consuming.
Client Expectations and Tight Deadlines: Clients often have high expectations for creative multimedia projects, and tight deadlines are common. Meeting these demands can put a strain on the workforce, leading to potential burnout and challenges in attracting and retaining skilled talent. Project Uncertainty: Many multimedia projects are unique, and there is often uncertainty in terms of project scope, timelines, and client requirements. This can make it difficult for companies to plan effectively and allocate resources efficiently. Economic Downturns: Economic downturns can lead to reduced budgets for marketing and advertising, impacting the demand for multimedia services. Companies may find it challenging to secure new projects and maintain a stable stream of income during tough economic times.
Skill Shortages: Finding skilled and experienced professionals in areas such as graphic design, animation, video editing, and virtual reality development can be challenging. The demand for specialized talent often outstrips the available pool of qualified individuals. Remote Work Challenges: The shift to remote work, while offering flexibility, can also pose challenges in terms of collaboration, communication, and project management. Creative processes may be hindered by the lack of in-person interactions. Adaptation to New Trends: Staying ahead of industry trends and adopting new technologies is crucial for the success of multimedia companies. Adapting to emerging trends may require additional investments and training for the workforce.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
As a Soweto-born artist, entrepreneur, and educator, my official solo debut was hosted at the Cape Town-based Priest gallery. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Visual Communication Design from the Open Window Institute. He has worked in art galleries, digital art festivals, museum spaces, the laser-cutting and 3D-printing industry, the film and music industry, and the mentoring and software sector. He is a founded Devolutionery (PTY) LTD, an independent audio and visual arts company. His work draws inspiration from Afrocentric mythology in relation to the post-modern. Jere explores and experiments with these themes using various audio and visual, illustration, sound/motion design, painting, and 3D digital mediums.
My work is an exploration of the fluid and fractured cartographies of belonging. Operating at the intersection of abstraction and cultural signifier, I use lines, form, and gesture to map the spaces where imposed structures like the nation-state collide with organic, persistent realities of movement, memory, and resistance.
My process is one of distillation and evocation. I am drawn to the liminal: the emblem in the process of unravelling, the root system spreading unseen, the digital signal bleeding into the landscape. I seek to visualise not a fixed identity, but a dynamic becoming a flow interrupted, a rhizomatic connection reasserting itself. Colour acts as both emotion and geography; form suggests both rupture and growth. The recurring motifs in my practice deconstruct symbols, rhythmic flows, and networked patterns that directly engage with the tensions of postcolonial subjectivity.
They ask what lies beneath and beyond the rigid frames we inherit. To take a symbol like the African musk as an emblem, a site of collective mobility and informal re-imagination, and abstract its essence, is to participate in the very act of Afrocentric decolonial rethinking. It is to find, in the aesthetic realm, the pulses of life that horizontal, non-hierarchical communities might follow.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
Experienced Founder with a demonstrated history of working in the graphic design industry. Skilled in Microsoft Excel, Customer Service, Microsoft Word, C++, Blender, and Adobe Creative Suite. Strong entrepreneurship professional with a Bachelor’s Degree focused on Illustration from The Open Window.
My favorite books have to be The Art of War by Sun Tzu, The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson, Archie Comics, Wolverine Origins, The Road Less Travelled by Peck, M Scott, and I Write What I Like by Steve Biko. My favorite podcasts: Diary of a CEO, Risk Rhythms Podcast: Dr Hermie le Roux Featuring Yvonne Mothibi – (Where Risk Meets Reason), KONVO, Aba and Preach.
Pricing:
- $21,69 per hour _ senior illustrator
- $12,39 pre hour _ mid-level sound designer
- $15,44 pre hour _ mid-level motion designer
Contact Info:
- Website: https://devolutionery.myportfolio.com/projects
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/devolutionery_/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dumisani-jere-69720167/
- Twitter: https://x.com/Devolutionery
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Devolutionery
- Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/0wbwORgKv3NmFN39i3
- Other: https://ikwebstore.co.za/devolutionery
