Sasol Art Museum – Mbongeni Buthelezi exhibition, demonstration & walkabout

Imizwa Yami,  a touring solo exhibition of Mbongeni Buthelezi, will be presented at the Sasol Art Museum in Ryneveld Street during September and October.

The Seippel Gallery, in association with Art Source South Africa, will present the exhibition that is to be opened by Prof Julian Smith, Vice Rector: Community Interaction and Personnel of Stellenbosch University on Wednesday 16  September at 18:30.  It closes Saturday 24 October.

Titled ‘Imizwa Yami’, (my feelings) this exhibition is a showcase of this exceptional artist’s expression of his personal South African experience. ‘Painter’ in plastic, Mbongeni Buthelezi layers coloured plastic, melted together with a heat gun, which reflects a profoundly empathetic vision of his world.

Says Buthelezi, “I now have 18 different  techniques, each of which have subtle differences  from the other. The material can be applied like large ‘brushstrokes’ in many colours, or a sepia toned portrait where layers of neutral shading creates visual depth and subtlety or through linear drawings.”

Black and white portraits, works from the series Childhood, sepia paintings from the Winter in Kliptown series, and other thematically related new pieces by Buthelezi can be seen at the exhibition.

“My figurative subject matter and township scenes reflect the physical environment of township life which is often one of survival. In my children at play series I show everyday scenes around me and through my portrait studies, I try to express people’s emotions whom I’ve met.”

The national exhibition tour launched at the Pretoria Art Museum in May 2009.  After the Stellenbosch exhibition, it will travel to the Red Location Museum in Port Elizabeth and thereafter to art museums in Bloemfontein, Kimberley and Durban.

Accompanied by a catalogue, this project cements Buthelezi’s position as one of the South Africa’s most unique artists. He also gained acclaim for his work internationally , and having exhibited in prestigious venues such as the Museum of African Art in New York, Goch Museum in Germany and on the Prague Biennale, as well as attending many international residencies.

Buthelezi will give a demonstration of his unique plastic painting technique during the Spring Art Tour on Saturday 3 October at 10:00 and on Sunday 4 October at 11:00 a walkabout.   Booking essential: 021 808 3691/5.  The demonstration costs R20 pp and the walkabout is free.