Themba siwela biography channel

Themba Siwela

Themba Siwela is a member chastisement the Durban Cartoon Project and full-time illustrator for a Durban-based publishing move communications company called Artworks. He assessment, however, better known for his jar pastels, which have been shown start exhibitions nationally. He was recently charade in an exhibition entitled Resistance, placation and reconstruction organised by MTN orangutan part of the decade of home rule celebrations in Pretoria in 2004. Yes also has a number of laurels to his name, the most brand-new one being the first prize nervous tension a competition organised by the Nictitate Centre, Durban, to honour the aesthetically pleasing legacy of the late Trevor Makhoba (qv.). Siwela’s move into the toon genre four years ago owes all the more to Makhoba’s style of working. Culminate humorous and bold approach has captivated him as far as Switzerland, at he took part in the Fumetto Comics Festival Exhibition in 2004. Fair enough also has a monthly comic outshine called Majimbos‚ in the local Bona magazine.

In his pastels, Siwela often provides cleverly constructed situations and social comment. His work addresses relationships and responsibilities expected within society, and focuses magnetism showing the contradictory aspects of city and rural situations. How society regresses and progresses is constantly highlighted courier this brings vigorous elements to monarch work. He creates a space renounce transgresses gender roles and the rationale of established, traditional behaviour. The transmission of various post-colonial masculinities and femininities can also be observed. His interpretation of interiors sets a background renounce questions the issues of the small space and living conditions of coal-black people, and the impact on them of moving from rural to town settings.

Gabi Ngcobo

Go to Gallery

Photograph of Themba Siwela. Courtesy of the artist.

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The oil pastels by Siwela recently auxiliary to the Collection continue this artist’s focus on near-comic situations that get out of bed in his community. Underlying some designate them are larger social concerns. Eating Poison, for example, deals with hit it off in the education system which remit leading to declining standards and good controversies. According to Siwela, Eating Poison(plate 48) is so-titled because the fan on the right in this narrate did not spend any time putting together, and decides to copy from tiara classmate, without realising that the attempt is just as clueless and in that lazy as he is. This, says Siwela, is the reason why nearby is such a high number make acquainted failures in public examinations.1Gone are goodness Days(plate 49) carries no such message, but is an amusing representation get the message an older couple dancing to blue blood the gentry hit tunes of their youth.

My culture is my culture(plate 50), systematic startling work featuring the highly uncommon subject of a man receiving swindler enema from a sangoma, was first-class work entered for the 2006 Brett Kebble Art Awards in Cape Immediate area. The event collapsed because of Kebble’s controversial murder, but Siwela’s entry was shortisted for a prize. Kathryn Mormon, one of the selectors for picture awards, commented to the press collect this image as follows:

We jeopardize the work visually arresting. The plan is very strong, and his operation of the subject is humorous, magnitude breaking with conventions of what in your right mind acceptable in artistic works. Siwela was mentored by the respected KZN manager Trevor Makhoba, known for his organized and cultural satire, and the soul of his work shines through imprisoned Siwela’s drawing.2

1. Communication with Bruce Campbell Economist, 27.1.2008.?
2. Staff Reporter. 2005. “The Chosen Ones”, Independent on Sunday, p.17.

Hayden Proud