UKUPHUCA

(“The dreamer”, terracotta clay by Clive Sithole)

A solo exhibition of ceramics and paintings by Clive Sithole is currently running at the BAT Centre.

From moulding award winning ceramics to painting edgy conceptual paintings, Clive Sithole’s solo exhibition is titled Ukuphuca (to scrape off / to takeout). This word is also used when one is shaving which brings irony to his concept. Ukuphucuzeka (civilisation) questions Beauty in an African Context.

Clive Sithole is an internationally well-known ceramicist. Since 1997 his prominence led to an invitation to attend ceramic classes at the Babumbi Clay Project, a ceramics project which helped enhance his career in the art industry.

Sithole was born in Soweto, Gauteng, where he developed love of fashion Design. He attended the London International School of Fashion Design in Johannesburg and established a fashion business. After relocating to Durban he developed a career in ceramics. Combining ceramics and painting, he expresses anarchic Identity in a society predisposed by hybridity. Sithole’s solo exhibition questions particularly Black Woman in a modern society and their perception of beauty. He believes that the perception of beauty leaves Black Woman in a vacuum in which they lack self-pride – instead they create the mask which is appropriate to the perception of beauty.

He questions all of these concerns through painting. They are expressed using edgy sketchily yet raw painting.

“I like to paint on brown paper because of its natural texture and colour” explains Clive Sithole. He argues that how one can be proud of what they are not. One of the questions he raises in his solo exhibition is: “Has anyone come across a bull with feathers? A bull is comfortable in its own skin”

Curated by Nomusa Mtshali, Ukuphuca runs in the BAT Centre’s Menzi Mchunu Gallery until March 11. The BAT Centre Trust is situated at 45 Maritime Place in the Small Craft Harbour, Durban. More information on 031 332 0451/2079, fax 031 332 2213 or cell 078 089 1040. For details of art exhibitions contact Nomusa Mtshali on 031 332 0451 or email visualarts@batcentre.co.za