Two Highway artists exhibit work in Mariannhill
The exhibition, which will include photographs, paintings and multi-media artworks, will open at the St Anne’s Hall at Mariannhill on Sunday, 5 November.
SIXTEEN Durban artists, working in various media, will host an exhibition, Trailing the Trappists, at St Anne’s Hall, in Mariannhill.
The event will be held from Sunday, 5 November to Monday, 13 November visually acknowledging and celebrating the extraordinary impact an obscure, tenacious and pioneering order of Catholic monks made in KwaZulu-Natal more than 135 years ago.
Two Highway artists; Nomsa Ngidi and Lara Mellon are among the 16 participating.
One of the art group members, Nomsa Ngidi, had changed her focus from painting landscapes to portraits. One day, part of the group visited the Mariannhill archive and saw a photograph of a man who looked a lot like someone Nomsa had painted.
It turned out the man, who was one of the first three black ministers to be ordained in Rome, was her great uncle.
“I have painted a portrait of my grandmother’s uncle Rev Fr Ngidi. He was among the first four black priests in South Africa.His potential was recognised at a young age while he was a member of the congregation at Centocow Mission. He was sent to Rome where he obtained his doctorates in Theology and philosophy and was ordained. He returned to South Africa and went on to become a well loved priest at Mariannhill,” said Ngidi.
She also painted the chapel of the Sacred Heart at Mariannhill.
“When I visited Mariannhill I came across this beautiful little chapel hidden among the trees. I felt drawn to this chapel, with its rich history and beautiful architecture,” she said.
The exhibition will open at St Anne’s Hall at Mariannhill at 11.30am on Sunday, 5 November. Archbishop Emeritus Khumalo will speak at the opening. Respected historian/conservation architect Robert Brusse will give a talk at St Anne’s Hall at 11am on Saturday, 11 November.
