Artist beats all the odds
Having no recollection of having hands has not held Zithulele Dlamini back from being an excellent artist.
ARTIST, Zithulele Dlamini, is an inspiration.
The Durban resident is self-employed and independent, but what makes him so unique is that Zithulele has no hands.
Zithulele said he never remembers having hands, not even one finger, but this has not stopped him from developing a love for art, which he is incredibly good at.
“I never grew up with my parents, I lived in a mission. I didn't realise I was different, I had just grown up like this. I live alone in Albert Park and I cook, wash and do my washing,” he said.
Zithulele said he had learnt to draw from a young age and started drawing to make a living in 1993.
“I wasn't good at school work. I met a rector at Anchorlite College who asked me what I was doing when I finished matric, what I wanted to study. He said I could start drawing and make a portfolio. The first picture I drew was of a candle. I took it back to him and he said I could start at the college. I dropped out of school in Grade 11 to go to the college in Queen Street,” he said.
He attended the college for three years, then met a Professor Banthula from UDW, who took him to study Fine Arts there.
“I didn't finish at UDW, I left and Mike from The Stables encouraged me to go make a living in Johannesburg. I moved to the Grahammstown Festival, Pretoria and went to the Royal Show in Pietermaritzburg. After that I moved down to Port Shepstone to a flea market there. I eventually moved back to Durban and I work at the beachfront and at Essenwood Market,” he said.
Zithulele said he can draw anything, as long as he has something to draw on!
“I respect art. I now get a disability grant to pay the bills, but my main income is through my art, and people do support me,” he said.
If anyone is interested in seeing Zithulele in action, go along to Essenwood Market where you can view his beautiful works of art which are available for sale.
