SNS24 Catalogue Digital Spreads - Book - Page 16
RUNNER UP
Runner-up
TANDABANTU NATHANIEL
JONGIKHAYA MATOLA
GQEBERHA
14
Black South African
communities, especially in
impoverished rural villages, are
forced to keep domestic items
even longer than they wish.
This lifelong forced frugality is imposed on these communities
primarily due to limited finances, resulting in untoward practices
to overcome resource constraints. For instance, keeping
items like dishcloths until they are distressed, not changing
toothbrushes over an extended period, and even keeping wornout clothing items.
The idea for this artwork came when the artist noticed that
the dishcloth at his home was in such a bad state. As an artist,
this prompted Matola to collect dishcloths from his village in
exchange for new ones. Clay and underglaze are used to depict
the homes Matola visited using the dishcloth he obtained
from that home. The weaving of clay and cloths symbolises
ukuncikelela, which means to hold on in isiXhosa. The PVA glue
is used to hold the clothes in shape while it also reinforces the
ukungcola (dirtiness) from the overuse of the cloth.
SASOL NEW SIGNATURES • 2024 CATALOGUE
Biography
Tandabantu Nathaniel Jongikhaya Matola was born
in Zandukwana Village in the Libode Township in
the Eastern Cape in 1996. He started to hone his
skills as an artist from a young age by making
pencil and pen sketches. In 2021, he enrolled in the
Fine Arts programme at Walter Sisulu University.
Matola’s work is inspired by Simphiwe Mbunyuza,
a fellow potter from the same university. Although
Matola has an interest in other fine art mediums,
such as painting and drawing, ceramics holds a
special place in his heart.
