Cape Town celebrates iconic artist Esther Mahlangu by hosting a retrospective of the star.
According to a report by Barron, a retrospective of the iconic South African artist Esther Mahlangu opened in Cape Town this week. It featured an old BMW painted in colourful shapes, some abstract works, and historic photographs.
The publication reports that the exhibition follows the iconic Mahlangu’s “unusual trajectory from rural South Africa to global acclaim.” The exhibition will be taken on an international tour after happening in Cape Town.
The renowned painter and mural artist gained acclaim locally and on the international scene by creating works that referenced her Ndebele heritage, with skills that were passed down for generations.
She said in an interview, “It’s in my genes to paint Ndebele.” She wore traditional, brightly coloured blue, yellow, and brown garments and jewelry, paired with white sneakers to the exhibition.
She continued, “The Ndebele art is within me, I was born with it. It is important for me, I don’t pretend to love it, I love it.”
Speaking about the exhibition, curator Nontobeko Ntombela said,
“The retrospective pays homage to Dr. Mahlangu’s unique approach to art, which intersects African culture with modernity and the contemporary, symbolising pride, self-determination and innovation.”
