EMHLABENI
THEMBA KHUMALO 4TH – 27TH JULY 2019 .
Emhlabeni reflects the social, political and spiritual landscape in current South Africa, and the understanding of land as identity. Using current news headlines as an entry into some of the injustice the landscape observes ‘Residents kill red ant’ Daily Sun April 11, 2019. Emhlabeni which loosely translates to earth in English, carries far greater meaning in Isizulu, these meaning are made visible through the nuances expressed in the drawings, painting with coffee to mimic the earth and soil tones and use of vernacular titles. With the attempt to saturate the land, the artists look at umhlaba as a piece of land measured through the size of the drawings. These renditions portray pieces of land as witnesses to the dispossession, illegal occupation as protest, loss of hope and yet through Baba Wethu Osezulwini (prayer) the artist depicts land as refugee, a space faith and healing. Emhlabeni recognises local expression of faith, loss and hope often used in transit between spaces; kusemhlabeni la, kunzima emhlabeni but often one hears kumunandi emhlabeni.
Baba Wethu Osezulwini, Coffee Stain, Charcoal and Pastel on Paper, 140 x 140 cm, 2019, Framed
Imilayelo, Coffee Stain, Charcoal and Pastel on Paper, 200 x 140 cm, 2019
Untitled, Coffee Stain, Charcoal and Pastel on Paper, 200 x 140 cm, 2019
Waiting, Coffee Stain, Charcoal and Pastel on Paper, 140 x 200 cm, 2019
Untitled, Coffee Stain, Charcoal and Pastel on Paper, 100 x 140 cm, 2019, Framed
Red Ants, Coffee Stain, Charcoal and Pastel on Paper, 140 x 140 cm, 2019
Ukuzalwa Kwebandla (The Rebirth of a Congress), Coffee Stain, Charcoal and Pastel on Paper, 139.5 x 150 cm, 2019
Look at Us, Coffee Stain, Charcoal and Pastel on Paper, 100 x 140 cm, 2019
Mamelani, Coffee Stain, Charcoal and Pastel on Paper, 100 x 140 cm, 2019, Framed
Sihamba Sonke II, Coffee Stain, Charcoal and Pastel on Paper, 71 x 216 cm, 2019
Waiting, Coffee Stain, Charcoal and Pastel on Paper, 71 x 200 cm, 2019
Sihamba Sonic, Coffee Stain, Charcoal and Pastel on Paper, 61 x 50 cm, 2019, Framed
Untitled, Coffee Stain, Charcoal and Pastel on Paper, 55 x 48 cm, 2019, Framed
Untitled, Coffee Stain, Charcoal and Pastel on Paper, 56 x 38 cm, 2019, Framed
Untitled, Coffee Stain, Charcoal and Pastel on Paper, 140 x 140 cm, 2019,
Residents Kill Red Ant, Charcoal and Pastel on Paper, 140 x 100 cm, 2019, Framed
Side by Side, Etching, 46 x 58 cm, Ed of 12, 2019, Framed
Isimemezelo, Etching, 46 x 58 cm, Ed of 12, 2019
Untitled, Etching, 46 x 58 cm, Ed of 12, 2019, Framed
Blah Blah Blah, Etching, 58 x 46 cm, Ed of 12, 2019, Framed
Soul to Soul, Etching, 58 x 46 cm, Ed of 12, 2019, Framed
Soul to Soul, Charcoal and Pastel on Paper, 60 x 50 cm, 2019
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