(Work by Mongezi
Ncaphayi)
Opening in the KZNSA’s Main and Mezzanine Gallery tonight (October
18) will be Spirit’s Response, Mongezi
Ncaphayi’s musically inspired ‘visual compositions’ solo exhibition
Ncaphayi might be known as an award-winning contemporary
fine artist – his latest win being the Gerard Sekoto Award in the 2013 Barclays
L’Atelier art competition – but this self-taught saxophonist is equally
passionate about music. It is the meeting of these two creative processes that
comes to life in Ncaphayi’s uplifting solo exhibition, Spirit’s Response, the first exhibition of the new year at the Absa
Gallery which took place in February.
Spirit’s Response is
Ncaphayi’s first solo exhibition since returning from his three-month residency
at the Cite Internationale des Arts in Paris last year as part of his L’Atelier
prize. He says it mirrors the people and situations he has come across, while
at the same time paying homage to his love for visual and musical art.
“My work reflects my everyday life. It is a direct response
to my life's experiences; a record of my thoughts, feelings and ideas about
life's situations, the people I meet and my environment. My imagery feeds on
musical influences, especially improvised music, and particularly that found in
jazz. I also use my own musical improvisations to create visual compositions,
making my artwork more personal. I explore the relationship between music and visual
arts by listening to how music tells stories. I see my work as visual sounds
and music,” Ncaphayi explains.
His interest in the technical and visual simplicity of the
way his work deals with space is evident in his minimalist prints – 45 artworks
of which are on display as part of Spirit’s
Response.
Ncaphayi holds a National Diploma in Arts & Design
(2005) from Ekurhuleni East College Arts School, a Professional Printmaking
Certificate (2008) from Artist Proof Studio and a Certificate in Advanced
Studies (2012) from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, USA.
Aside from the Barclays L’Atelier Gerard Sekoto Award, he
has been awarded a scholarship from Linda Givon of the Goodman Gallery (2011);
a fellowship to the Ampersand Foundation (2011); first prize in the Decision
2012 printmaking juried show at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston
(2012) and a grant from the Prince Claus Fund (2015).
As part of his Barclays L’Atelier prize, Ncaphayi is given
the opportunity to host a travelling exhibition through the Alliance Française
network comprising the South African National Association for the Visual Arts
(SANAVA), Alliance Française and the French Institute in South Africa.
Spirit's Response runs
from October 18 to November 6 in the KZNSA’s Main and Mezzanine Gallery.
The KZNSA Gallery
is situated at 166 Bulwer Road, Glenwood, in Durban. More information on 031
277 1705, fax 031 201 8051 or cell 082 220 0368 or visit www.kznsagallery.co.za
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