Behind the scenes at Madame Zingara’s

We get behind the scenes with Nadia Brown, the head of Madame Zingara’s Art Department.

When did you join Madame Zingara and what did you start out as?
I started out in 2007 firstly as a runner at the tent, then as a waitress where I travelled with the tent for three years. In my third year I got the opportunity to maintain and oversee table arrangements at the tent.

How many years have you been with Madame Zingara?
Almost seven years

Describe your role at Madame Zingara?
I am the creative developer responsible for sourcing the “look and feel” for all the restaurants.  I develop new concepts and also physically implement them

How would you define a typical day at Madame Zingara?
Busy and full of the unknown

How many projects have you completed in total with Madame Zingara- would you call them projects?
Can’t count! I assist with the moving of the tent thrice a year, amongst this I have been a part of every restaurant launch that we have had thus far. So nine big projects in-between our daily projects which keep us very busy!!

What are your most favourite materials and techniques to work with?
Upholstery and fabric finishes

What is the inspiration behind Madame Zingara?
Richard griffin he finds and feeds the inspiration basis of all projects and concepts…through reading, watching good music videos, movies and magazines…

Going back to childhood, can you remember your first encounter with art and how it influenced you?
I started drawing and painting from a very young age with my mom. She is an artist in her spare time and still to this day makes time to draw with me

How do you like to relax away from work?
Getting out of the city, to the beach, or outdoors…nature anywhere

What’s your favourite artwork?
Changes depending on my mood….but Tretchikoff painting of Chinese Girl, is my current fixation

What memorable responses have you had to your work?
It must be the positive feedback from customers and seeing people enjoying the spaces especially on launch night

What food, drink, song inspires you?
Sushi is my good mood food and coffee. The song that most inspires has to be Florence and the Machine - Dog Days Are Over...

Name something you love, and why. 
Music, it transports your mind and body

Name something you don’t love, and why.
Fluff and glue are always a bad combination to work with and also don’t love drunk people that steal things!

What is your dream project?
I am busy working on it. Shake your Honey Mumbai. It is Richard’s newest venture, opening up on our original location off Loop Street, CT.  It is an exciting project and I am looking forward to dealing with a big production filled with international creatives

Name three artists you’d like to be compared to.
Don’t like be compared to anyone, sorry. I am however inspired by all our local artists and craftsmen. Local really is lekker!!

Place of inspiration?
So far, India….

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
Keep things simple

Professionally, what’s your goal?
To strengthen my skills, start my own business, create art and be happy!!

What wouldn’t you do without?
The strength and support of family, friends and loved ones

Tell us three interesting things about yourself that not many people would know or expect? I.e. you have an infatuation for pink flamingos etc (anything silly)
I can play the violin
I obsess over miniature things
I collect tea pots

What superpower would you have and why?
Teleportation, so I could go anywhere in the world, whenever, wherever… Or… The power to make money grow on trees, then people would plant more of them.