(“Women Sangomas”
linocut by Gabisile Nkosi)
An exhibition of the works of the late Gabisile Nkosi opening at The
Phansi Museum Gallery on October 26 celebrates her life and work as an artist.
There
will be approximately 25 images on display plus some of her students’ artwork.
In 1996, in her early 20s, Nkosi attended art lessons with the Velobala
Group run by the African Art Centre. She subsequently taught the classes in
2001.
She had exhibited twice at the African Art Centre and her last exhibition
was entitled Ukwelapha: Healing, as
she was passionately interested in how art could be used as therapy, especially
for women who had been abused and damaged through domestic violence.
(“Praying Figure
(1971) linocut by Gabisile Nkosi)
Nkosi had reached a high point with her technique and vision from having
worked with Malcolm Christian of Caversham Press in the midlands of
KwaZulu-Natal, where she was also the programme manager and community
co-ordinator.
Her work was eagerly collected and the Durban Art Gallery
purchased four prints from Celebrating
the Spirits exhibition; Gida nami
(Dancing on the chair), Wandile
(Someone I know), Imvelaphi
(Heritage).
Malcolm Christian wrote about Gabisile. "I knew her as a colleague,
a counsellor, an artist and fellow printmaker whose lino-cutting skills not
many can hold a candle to, a teacher and a friend. She was also a mother, a
daughter and sister. Gabisile was a printmaker of the highest calibre and many
of us are in admiration and awe at her ability in achieving the most lyrical,
poetic and honest depictions of the things that mattered to her most.”
Phansi Museum is situated at 500 Esther Roberts Road, Glenwood, in
Durban. Contact the museum on 031 206 2889 or email admin@phansi.com or visit
www.phansi.com
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