Sandton’s gallery celebrates young artists from South Africa’s Soil
Young artists given the spotlight to reflect on their contributions to the world of South African art in Sandton.
The Artyli Art Gallery in Sandton hosted a panel discussion that featured modern contemporary South African artists on June 15.
The panel to the discussion, titled ‘Soil’, saw facilitator Ashraf Jamal lead artists Fumani Maluleke, Henrico Greyling and Frans Thoka through an inter-regional conversation on land, and the complexity of the African artist’s plight in South Africa. The panel was also joined by Artyli CEO Karen Cullinan, who is celebrated for having the vision to pair the artists currently being exhibited at the gallery.
Each artist had the opportunity to discourse the themes behind their conceptions – and the motivating factors which led them to choose the mediums their works represented. Also central to each artist’s work was the influence of each of their respective grandmothers, one way or the other.
Frans Thoka stayed with his maternal grandmother for two years, which afforded him ample time to spend in the bushes, drawing inspiration from the natural landscapes in Polokwane. Thoka said that he had started working with blankets and fabrics on canvas in his second year at university, following an incident where his work got stepped on and damaged while commuting between school and home.
Fumani Maluleka reflected on how running out of materials, sparked the idea that straw mats also double up as quality material for painting after spilling paint on the mat he had been sleeping on. “So, I took the mat, and I started working on it, not realising that I wouldn’t have a bed that night,” Maluleka said. He learned from his grandmother when he was sourcing more straw mats to work on.
Henrico Greyling spoke about how his grandmother’s passing had moved him into healing from the emotions of losing her through his art. “The archway artwork is based on the architectural element at the house where my grandmother spent the last few years of her life,” said Greyling.
Question and Answer with Henrico Greyling:
How did you build it?
I made a scale mock-up out of clay, so I know exactly what size to make the pieces for the actual archway. I created the steel framework in each of the pieces you’ll see with squared tubing, which I welded; and I created the outer form with steel sheets, which I also welded.
Another part of the process was creating the different textures, and finishings through the rust process. I left the pieces outside in the rain to rust, and further develop into what it is now.
What material did you use?
It’s steel. Some of the steel pieces that you can see were found rusted already, but some of them were newly bought. I used the process of leaving those in the rain and tapping into the materiality of steel allowing the rust to form part of the work.
Where are you originally from, and did you study art?
I am from Magalieskruin in Pretoria. I studied fine arts at Tuks. I graduated last year. This is my first-year post-graduation, so I feel this is a great opportunity for me to exhibit my work. I made most of these pieces during my studies, so I feel good knowing that the work I produced is good enough to be in a gallery like this.
How did the opportunity to exhibit in Sandton come about?
A funny story: The gallery had a marketing job opportunity about two months ago in April, and I applied for that. In that process, I also sent in my portfolio. They said they’d rather let me be an artist, and exhibit my work after I had sent in some more samples. That’s how the opportunity came about.
What does it mean to you to have been allowed to exhibit your work to a Sandton audience?
It’s a great opportunity, especially since most of the work I have exhibited was in Pretoria. The market here is more developed, and the interest in art is a lot more here in the Sandton area. I’m glad that people are seeing my art here, especially the archway. This is the first time it’s been in a proper space, so I’m really glad it has this opportunity to be seen.
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