Lazi Mathebula | The Makings of You

THE MAKINGS OF YOU

Lazi Mathebula

Solo Exhibition

kalashnikovv gallery

THE MAKINGS OF YOU

A

solo presentation by Lazi Mathebula

In “The Makings of You,” The work delves into the concept of deconstruction and reconstruction, exploring the intricate processes of breaking down and reassembling the various elements that constitute our identities and social fabric. Rooted in the definition of deconstruction as “to break something down into its separate parts in order to understand its meaning, especially when this is different from how it was previously understood,” this new body of work invites viewers to reflect on the multifaceted nature of personal and collective experience.

Emerging from the pervasive fatigue brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, the work addresses the profound impact on society, as well as the personal reckoning with trauma, relationships, and cultural influences. “The Makings of You” serves as a metaphorical and literal deconstruction and reconstruction of these experiences, examining how we have all been fundamentally altered and reshaped over time.

From childhood complexities of township upbringing, with aspirations of someday existing uptown but still holding on to the traditions of a conservative home, some of these elements are the threads of my social fabric. They remained largely uninterrupted until our interactions began to weave a more complex tapestry. The work speaks to these interactions and how they are deconstructed, examined, and reconstructed to meet our evolving needs.

Through a meticulous process of breaking down, tearing, pulling, distorting, and washing away layers, I’m reclaiming what is left. The resulting works are a testament to the resilience and adaptability of the human spirit. They represent the formation of new, supreme variants of our beings, constructed from the remnants of our past experiences and forged into new identities.

“The Makings of You” invites us to consider the ongoing process of self-construction. It challenges us to reflect on how our personal histories and cultural narratives are continually deconstructed and reassembled, shaping who we are and who we are becoming.

Kalashnikovv is proud to present Lazi Mathebula’s “The Makings of You,” an exhibition that not only captures the essence of personal transformation but also speaks to the universal journey of reconstructing our identities in the face of profound change.

kalashnikovv gallery LAZI MATHEBULA | THE MAKINGS OF YOU

LAZI MATHEBULA

ABOUT

b. 1989 – Johannesburg, RSA

Lazi Mathebula is an award-winning illustrator and independent designer who believes that real creativity involves transforming the ordinary and in a sense, turning realism on its head. He currently lives and works in Johannesburg.

Mathebula’s work reflects a recognisable fixation on fine detailing, the intricacies of the purely African stories and tasteful use of luminous colour to create long-lasting visual impressions. His instantly recognizable textures and patterns are as distinctive as they are delicate. In the new body of work that was created for the FNB Art Joburg Fair (2020), sculptural forms take centre stage, with each character highlighting and honouring some of the many essential workers that have worked hard to keep things moving despite the numerous difficulties that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought to our country. The figures include health practitioners, petrol attendants and minivan taxi drivers.

Drawn from the artist’s early experiences making drawings, paintings and digital illustration, his current artistic practice occupies a space that is concurrently post-digital, post-street and post-apartheid. Reflecting an interest in the relationships between different sectors of South African society, the history of indigenous communities and the relationship between fashion and ritual. Mathebula’s practice investigates the people and the textures that seem to define the urban reality of Johannesburg.

Mathebula’s style earned him opportunities to work with brands such as Nike, Legit, Boogaloos, Supreme Being, Ricoffy, Flying Fish, Auto Trader, Red Bull, Martell Cognac and Castle Lager. Mathebula has also continuously participated in the creative aspect of the Basha Uhuru since the first Freedom Festival at Constitution Hill in Johannesburg, South Africa. He has molded the look and feel of the festival’s creative identity, and with it has grown and developed as an artist.