Takalani is making a big impact in the art world
Takalani Ligege focuses on Venda culture for both aesthetic and social impact reasons
LIMPOPO – Takalani Ligege from Thohoyandou Block J is gaining fame and recognition in the art world with his paintings.
He said he always had an interest in animation drawing. “I started drawing and painting in 2000 and I’ve been hooked ever since. When I came across fine art paintings in library books, my eyes were opened to a fantastic world of creative expression. Over time I simply could not be just an observer, I wanted to be an active participant,” he added.
For painting, he uses pencil, pastel, charcoal, watercolour, acrylic paint and oil paint. “My current media of choice are oil paint, watercolour and print making,” he said.
Although he never studied art, he said: “Having grown up in an area where art is not particularly valued or understood, I decided early on that I was going to teach myself and I have been learning new skills on my own ever since”.
He has done many portraits of well-known and lesser known faces, most memorable being a portrait of Noria Mabasa and recently a portrait of Nelson Mandela.
He said he has a great interest in exhibiting his work at reputable galleries and international events. “I have exhibited several times at the FNB Jo’burg Art Fair,” he added.
His paintings focuses on Venda culture for both aesthetic and social impact reasons.
“Artists are custodians of the culture of a people. Their creations preserve the heritage of a people and carry it forward into the next generation. The cultural depictions I am painting are part of a series I call ‘Dancing Shadows’. My cultural depictions of Venda people highlight how our various cultures as African people are disappearing. Our culture as it stands is but a shadow of what we should have inherited from our grandparents. The rate at which we are losing our character as a people, our essence, our uBuntu, is scary for those who have eyes to see,” he said.
A portrait price guide can be found on the website www.vendart.co.za.
Those interested in his work can contact him at 078 883 9944 or e-mail on info@vendart.co.za. Follow his work on Twitter @tligege.
