It’s Senzo Shabangu’s world

Artist Senzo Shabangu’s work is on exhibition at David Krut Projects for the fourth time.

In this show, he presents pieces from his collection entitled My World. It comprises drawings, linocuts and works on paper that focus on his journey of critical self-exploration. Themes include negotiation of control, the creative process and the ability to create and sustain – both from a practical and creative perspective.

“My work is inspired by daily living. We live in a world where everything is about ownership and, if we are renting, it is almost like we are floating, we are like floating boxes. This can be seen in some of my work,” said Shabangu.

He added, as Africans we need to celebrate the creativity all around us and we need to realise that whatever we are facing will later also make us. “We need to understand that our experiences, and appreciate whatever stage we are in, in our lives, as this is what builds us.”

Since 2010, Shabangu has dealt with the complex, conflicted reality of coming from a small village in Driefontein in Mpumalanga and being confronted with the pressures of the city, as well as the emotional aspects of migration.

Shabangu’s earlier works engaged with an unfamiliar city landscape and all its possibilities. “When Senzo came into my life he was a starting-up artist. He was dealing with a lot, but the way he dealt with everything in a positive way released his talent. It is not what the art is about but rather who the man is,” explained David Krut, owner of David Krut Projects.

Hlengiwe Vilakati, a gallery owner in the Orange Grove area, commented on the consistency of Shabangu’s work. She commended him for always delivering on the high expectations that people have of him. “You can just see how he has evolved in the last three years through his work and how their prices have shot up as he became more established.”

The exhibition will end on 31 October.

Details: www.davidkrutprojects.com