‘Umthwalo’ is a visual dialogue on hair, inviting us to explore the multiplicity of meaning in the tangible and abstract things we carry with us every day and how those meanings have been fabricated and threaded through with metaphor. The work uses collaborative multi-media artworks, to explore the ways in which our hair – and our choices and non-choices about our hair – is a binding thread. With AR (Augmented Reality), the artworks call attention to the function of hair strands as the strands which stitch together our past present; future and play a role in own our true identity as Africans.
The work is heavily influenced by African aesthetics and psychedelic elements, with the use of symbolism to help push the message across. This allows the viewer to interpret the pieces how they feel and is not direct. African aesthetics, rich vapour and psychedelic colours and textures, all come to life in one vibrant artwork.
The artist, Nkululeko Mhlanga (vonMash), says of the work: “Umthwalo is a visual dialogue on hair, inviting us to explore the multiplicity of meaning in the tangible and abstract things we carry with us every day. It is a reminder that our hair – and our choices and non-choices about our hair – is a binding thread. It is a part of us that connects us to our past, our present, and our future. It is a part of our identity as Africans.”
Mhlanga is a self-taught artist who works primarily in mixed media. His work has been exhibited in galleries and museums around the world, and he has received numerous awards for his work. He is passionate about using his art to explore issues of identity, culture, and spirituality.
‘Umthwalo’ is a powerful and thought-provoking work of art that invites the viewer to explore the complex meanings of hair. It is a reminder that our hair is more than just a physical attribute – it is a part of who we are.
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