SNS CATALOGUE 2023 DIGITAL-compressed - Book - Page 84
SOLO EXHIBITION
SOLO
EXHIBITION
SOLO
EXHIBITION
82
Mondli Mbhele’s work questions transformation
in the life of people in South Africa, specifically the
youth. His body of work for his first solo exhibition
is entitled Ingoma Yothando, or Song of Love
translated from isiZulu.
It is inspired by traditional dances and its
accompanying music. Most of these dances
are performed during different ceremonies such
as the introduction of a new family member, initiations
for young men and women, weddings, funerals, even
harvest seasons, as a way to pay tribute to those who
went before. These dances can be used as a vehicle to
recall the past in order to have balance in one’s physical
and spiritual life, both in the present and in the future.
These dances were passed down from generation
to generation. Mbhele’s concern is with the
preservation of these traditions in an era where
technology and social media threatens to overpower
the fabric of society and the rituals which have
provided guidance. Mbhele’s medium of choice is
fabric collage as for him it shares similarities with our
daily lives. Fabric covers our bodies, while boosting our
confidence and providing a new canvas for each day.
SASOL NEW SIGNATURES • 2023 CATALOGUE
