(“Zebra Rickshaw”. A
monkey rides on the back of a zebra while two baboons enjoy their ride in the
rickshaw. The work was made by Thulani Mtungwa and painted by Senzo Duma. Photo: Ardmore Ceramic Art)
The monkey is a symbol of wit and humour and shows the fun
side of Ardmore Ceramic Art which is based in the KZN Midlands. That quirkiness
has been captured in the Celebrating the
Year of the Monkey exhibition at Charles Greig Jewellers in Hyde Park,
Johannesburg, running until August 29.
Monkeys are often depicted as mischievous figures in myth,
legend and lore – and anyone who has seen them frolicking in the wild can
testify to this fact.
It’s something which has been beautifully captured by Tebogo
Ndlovu in a work titled Pulling the
Python’s Tail. This large bowl features a python, which curls and writhes
along the edge, each scale beautifully rendered along the twisting snake’s
skin. Adding a playful feel are some delightful monkeys who run away from and
taunt the python.
Painter, Wiseman Ndlovu, has, using black and gold, added
power to the slithering python and has added witty expressions to each of the
monkeys, which gives the piece a lightness and playfulness.
Another stunning work is Tebogo’s hand-coiled Bronco Bowl, featuring a bucking zebra,
which has just kicked a monkey in his behind. Around them a troop of monkeys
tumble and play in a frivolous pursuit of fun. It’s clear to see that Tebogo
enjoyed sculpting this action- and comedy-filled masterwork.
Painter, Sthabiso Hadebe, chose a palette of greens
contrasted against black and white, for the bowl. The work has a wonderful
rhythm, thanks to the colours that weave their way in and out, while the
addition of delicious monster plants and cycad pods increase the jungle fever
feeling.
Monkeys and baboons also feature in a new range of works
featuring rickshaws. The oriental feel of these works is, in part, a tribute to
the Indian Hindu god Hanuman, who is worshipped as a divine protector and an
embodiment of strength. The mere mention of his name is said to dispel and
remove negativity.
Baboons too were worshipped in the past. In ancient Egypt
sexual potency and prowess were associated with the baboon gods Bebon and Baba
(Babi), while the squatting baboon became an early, visible and protective form
of Thoth, a god associated with knowledge and scribes.
Ardmore has celebrated these gods in various works, including
in a monumental urn with a baboon guard on the lid. The work, which was thrown
by Lovemore Sithole, sculpted by Qiniso Mungwe and painted with wonderful
baboon imagery by Zinhle Nene.
Jonathan Scobie, a missionary in Japan, is widely credited
with inventing the rickshaw in 1869 as a way to transport his wife through the
streets of Yokohama.
Some 20 years later rickshaws appeared in India and arrived
in Durban thanks to sugar magnate, Sir Marshall Campbell, in 1893. There were
once hundreds of colourful rickshaw pullers plying their trade in the city. The
25 that operate today are all that remain of this rich history.
The rickshaw men - who journey up and down the Golden Mile
in their beaded costumes and impressively horned headgear - are not the only
rickshaw pullers, however. In traditional Ardmore fashion, their talented
artists have created works featuring, amongst other creatures, baboons, zebras
and tigers.
Speaking about the latest Ardmore works, which are sure to
delight collectors, Fée Halsted, founder of Ardmore Ceramic Art, said: “The
artists and I have had so much fun and have enjoyed working in collaboration
with Christopher Greig to produce new
works for the ‘Celebrating the Year of the Monkey’ exhibition.
“The new rickshaw sculptures are a tribute to the wonderful cross-cultural images that make
Durban and KwaZulu-Natal unique and colourful – and our province is alive with
naughty monkeys. Their energy and
vitality make our province tropical, rich and spicy."
Charles Greig is at Shop 13, Hyde Park Corner, Middle Mall,
Johannesburg, and is open from 09h00 to 18h00. For more information contact 011
325 6881.
For more information on Ardmore visit www.ardmoreceramics.co.za
or contact Clint Pavkovich via email at clint@ardmoreceramics.co.za – Report by Estelle
Sinkins
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