Walter Maluleke has chosen Springs Art Gallery as the site for his first solo exhibition.
The exhibition showcases his It takes a village series which is based on his childhood as a young boy growing up in the rural village of Thomo in Limpopo.
It forms part of his ongoing narrative in exploring the theme of home and roots.
Maluleke discovered his talent at the age of 12 and started practicing his skills by drawing Dragon Ball Z cartoon characters.
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Alex Kuna, a fellow artist from the same village, also helped as they nurtured their talent.
After a brief but unsuccessful foray into physical science in high school, Maluleke decided to concentrate on visual art and was the top student in his school from Grades 10 to 12.
The visual artist, who comes from a family of five, constantly drew everywhere and drove his mother crazy as he practiced on every surface in the house.
“At home, my work is everywhere.
“If it’s not on the wall, then it’s on the door,” says Maluleke.
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The Pretoria-based artist hopes to inspire other artists to showcase their roots regardless of where they come from.
When he is not creating beautiful works of art, Maluleke is teaching in Pretoria East.
In two years time, Maluleke hopes to open his own studio, shop and art gallery in Limpopo.
“If there is no art centre, art dies in that community and people are forced to move away to bigger cities.
“There are some schools where there is no art being taught and it’s killing it because people see no value in it.
“Children grow up and they have nowhere to practice their inner magic,” says Maluleke.
Maluleke urges the people of Springs to come to his exhibition to get a better understanding of where they come from, to be reminded of their roots and to embrace them.
The exhibition will run at the Springs Art Gallery until March 23.
The drawings are up for sale and the gallery is open from 9am to 4pm, Mondays to Fridays and from 9am until noon on Saturdays.
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