You make art. But how do you make a living?

Getting paid for something you created can mean more than covering the bills. It can feel like someone finally sees the value in what you do.

But what happens before that recognition arrives? How do you keep creating while still paying for the life around it?

In this episode of Behind the Profile, South African conceptual artist Oratile Papi Konopi joins the conversation to explore building a life and a livelihood through art.

From Meadowlands to navigating Johannesburg’s art world, Oratile reflects on the experiences that shaped his creative identity and the role of language, meaning and ideas in his work.

The conversation also gets into questions many creatives will recognise: How do you get paid for an idea? What does surviving financially as an artist look like? And does money change the work you’re willing to make?

At HustleNest, we’ve partnered with Zané to bring you the people behind the creative work, including the decisions and everyday realities that don’t always make it into a portfolio.

This episode makes space for those realities, and for the person figuring them out.

Watch the full episode below.