(“Sharing Different Spirits”
- wood cut by Sthenjwa Luthuli)
The African Art Centre will host a selection of works on
paper by Sthenywa Luthuli from October 6.
Luthuli was born in Botha’s Hill in 1991 and attended
IDelani Lower primary school. In 2010, he joined the BAT Centre visual art
classes and these familiarised him with the professional art industry and
encouraged him to further explore and develop his creativity.
In 2011, Luthuli enrolled for the Velobala Saturday Art
Classes hosted by the African Art Centre at the Durban University of
Technology. These classes offer
visual art instruction and fine art education to young creative black artists
located away from the traditional urban clusters of arts infrastructure.
As a result of his dedication and commitment and overt
talent, he was selected to further take part in the Velobala Mentorship
Programme in 2012. This exposed him to a more extensive programme of Visual Art
in a formal environment, together with the students of the Department of Fine
Art at the Durban University of Technology. Luthuli was mentored by Themba
Shibase, artist and fine art lecturer at the Department of Fine Art at the
Durban University of Technology.
In his work, Luthuli says he explores the importance of the
circular shape to African culture in contrast to how the modern world seems to
be composed chiefly of the square shape. “The square exerts control,” he said.
“Even when you walk around you will find yourself walking around a square
because of buildings and roads. I feel like we are no longer free as human
beings.
Luthuli is inspired by a number of artists including, Edward
Hopper, Gerald Sekoto, Ephraim Ngatane and Yinka Shonibare. Since 2011, he has
participated in a number of group exhibitions in KwaZulu-Natal and Johannesburg
and in 2012, he participated in an exhibition in Bremen, Germany and completed
a mural project in the Concordia Tunnel, which runs along the Schwachhauser
highway in Bremen. His work is
represented in a number of private and corporate collections and in the
international collection of the Leiterin der Stadtischen Galerie in Bremen,
Germany.
Sthenjwa Luthuli’s exhibition runs from October 6 to 23 at the
African Art Centre at 94 Florida Road, Morningside. More information from the Director,
Sharon Crampton, or the Development Officer, Nozipho Zulu, on 031 312 3805 or
email africanartcentre@afri-art.co.za or visit www.afriart.co.za
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