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Opening on July 20 at the African Art Centre will be a selection of recent works by printmaker, Vulindlela Nyoni. In his first exhibition at the Centre, Nyoni presents a body of work which bears testimony to his virtuosity and genius and his partiality for combination-print techniques.
Born in Chilimanzi, Zimbabwe in 1976, Nyoni moved to South Africa to further his studies. He attained a Bachelor of Arts in the Fine Arts from the then University of Natal in 1998 and a Masters in Fine Arts from the now University of KwaZulu-Natal in 2006. His Master’s thesis was entitled Representations of ‘other’ in selected South African artworks: Re-membering the black male body. He is currently working on a PhD in Visual Art and investigating themes around collaborative printmaking.
Nyoni’s work covers a multiplicity of themes; however his main objective is to emphasize the significance of personal narrative. An outstanding draughtsman; his figurative work depicts acute observation and delicate mark-making. Throughout his imagery, his metaphors are appreciably symbolic and there is an interesting play between tension and engagement and between strength and fragility. In this body of work, Nyoni continues to demonstrate his masterful ability of placing bold and technically seamless images in open spaces, creating an amalgamation of tranquility and tension.
Apart from being a practicing artist, Nyoni also lectures in Printmaking, Drawing, Digital imaging and Photography at the Centre for Visual Art, University of KwaZulu-Natal (Pietermaritzburg). His main interests lie in the politics of representation and self-representation as exploration of personal narrative through print media.
Since 2001, Vulindlela has been involved in ongoing community based workshops at the University of KwaZulu-Natal Centre for Visual Art. He has participated in numerous exhibitions locally and internationally and is represented in collections in South Africa and abroad.
His exhibition will be opened at the African Art Centre in Florida Road by Dr Juliette Lieb-DuToit on July 20 at 17h30 and it will remain on view until August 6. More information from Director of the African Art Centre, Sharon Crampton or Development Officer, Nozipho Zulu on 031 312 3804/5 or email africanartcentre@afri-art.co.za