Dumile held the left side of his chest and said that is where the cry of the cattle hit him. Zamani romeo makhanya was born in lamontville, kwazulunatal, in 1959. In telling the remarkable story of dumile fenis life, the author is joined by a distinguished cast. Each handstitched leather composition notebook cover is. Just like its back story, the charcoalcoloured statuette is as perturbing. The exhibition will include both sculptures and drawings by the artist. The first of three volumes, this account chronicles the story of one of south africas greatest artists, dumile feni.
Dumile zwelidumile geelboi mgxaji mslaba feni 1942 1991 dumile. Dumile feni 26 ezrom legae 30 sam nhlengethwa 32 sydney kumalo 34 peter clarke 36. Dumile feni remains an enigma in south african art. See more ideas about sarah lucas, chair and marina abramovic. Through 2005, the dumile feni retrospective exhibition. It has a distinct demographic composition, with half of its inhabitants classified as colored, almost 20% white, and just over 30% african. This tendency towards idealism began to wane with the appearance of artists such as stanley pinker 1924 p 8, fred page 190884 and dumile feni. Pdf on jan 1, 2016, shose kessi and others published chabani manganyi. Photographer george hallett captures the dignity of. Feb 1, 2016 celebrated south african artist dumile feni.
Dumile fenis exhibition a timely take on being black. In the west, we have endorsed aristotle rather than socrates. In the shadow of the rainbow early european explorers and missionaries to africa. Dumile fenis exhibition a timely take on being black the. Aspire summer 19 catalogue by aspire art auctions issuu. Oct 22, 2015 feni is described as the goya of the townships, alluding to his ability in depicting the daily struggles experienced in south africa during the apartheid era. What is remarkable about these seminal works is sekotos ability to. A biographical sketch a paucity of written archival information compounds the enigma of dumile. Photographer george hallett captures the dignity of apartheid. Dumile feni biography by sophia reuss south african. Identity reflected in south african art nirmi ziegler. Dumiles sense of anger and despair fed into work of extraordinary power.
Judus mahlangus etching baptism on the other side of the gallery shows a mastery of the sugar lift etching and the composition that is about crowd, song and direction. The city of cape town in south africa has a population in excess of 3. And then, theres an undated sculpture made in jacaranda wood by kenneth molatana called ngwale, which will grab you by the hairs on the back of your neck. Learners are to read the extract and then either discuss the work of dumile feni or any other artist they have studied in the context of showing daily angst or hardship in a deprived society.
From the first deep, broad notes of agrippa magwazas bass one knows that this is a special album. Books from or about africa are read for a reason, one that often has nothing to do with the beauty of the language or the composition of the story. Dumile feni biography by sophia reuss zwelidumile geelboi mgxaji mslaba dumile feni was born on 21 may 1942 in the small town of withuis in worcester, cape province. Nov 23, 2017 dumile feni known as dumile, for instance, became a master of drawing, often in ballpoint pen. Zakes mda and chika unigwe were my private treasures. Much of the material is contradictory, is subject to circumspection and extremely difficult to verify. Theres a disturbing back story to how a wellknown dumile feni sculpture came to be. The young girl, appearing to be a young teenager, has a look of inspiration on her face as she stares through the foggy glass at a small dog. The expressive use of colour reminds one of dumile feni, fikile magadlana, leonard motsoso, ezrom legae, to mention but a few of the precursors of expressionism in south african art. The daville baillie gallery, at victoria yards in johannesburg, is acutely aware of the dangers to the aged and disabled in alexandra township, in the present time of covid19. The story of a great artist volume 1 hardcover author. There was a composition of a prisoner, of a victim a group of figures where they. Beauty, humanity and dignity are, sadly, not the first words that spring to mind when you think of apartheidera south africa, with its pernicious brutality and the callous, systematic.
They were crying for their like, dying at the hands of human beings. A comprehensive account of the life and work of dumile feni this lavishly illustrated, fullcolour book is the most comprehensive collection of dumile fenis work to date and a tribute to the retrospective exhibition run by the johannesburg art gallery in 2005, which toured south africa and stems from years of thorough research. It is well known that he suffered from the cold in his tiny apartment, which allowed him little latitude to paint. Apr 01, 2011 the first of three volumes, this account chronicles the story of one of south africas greatest artists, dumile feni. Drawing attention to africas art tue, apr 18, 2006, 01. Leather composition book cover handstitched rustico. The artist describes his work as visual fictions that are intended to evoke the sensation of halfrecalled memories. Reflecting back on the contemporary possibilities of a liberatory black. One day i was in the township with this driver and we went past a line of men who were all handcuffed. Dumile feni zwelidumile jeremiah mgxaji is better known as dumile feni. That was the first time that i understood the power of figurative, large scle drawings that they could be so striking. South african art has always taken on the unique flavour of the country, from the 4 000yearold cave paintings of the san bushmen the richest collection of rock art in africa to the homegrown conceptual art movement that sprang. It was considered to be of a uniquely high, even avantgarde, standard.
This beautiful leather cover will last for years and only look and feel better with use and time, making it the perfect gift for the writer in your life. Judith neilson on art and architecture, love and life. Average annual income is 2,000 pounds and the city has an unemployment rate of 23%. The title track, yakhal inkomo, starts with magwaza and pianist lionel pillay laying down a funky groove with a twonote bass ostinato until the soulful tenor of winston mankunku ngozi comes in about four and a half bars later to lay down the main theme. One is that of the writer and editor of the book, chabani manganyi. Sep 12, 2014 in the west, we have endorsed aristotle rather than socrates. Feni is described as the goya of the townships, alluding to his ability in depicting the daily struggles experienced in south africa during the apartheid era. The artist also continues his lithographic series of tributes in which he pays homage to south africas most illustrious artists such. See more ideas about south african artists, african and artist. Dumile feni, the stricken household 1965 dumile made remarkably strong demonic drawings, either in ballpoint pen on a smaller scale, or in charcoal on a large scale. Gallery momo in cape town recently held a special exhibition of south african artist dumile fenis work, including many neverbeforeseen pieces. Apr 25, 20 there, he met dumile feni whose drawings had a major impact on kentridges work. Dumile fenimhlaba zwelidumile mxgazi south african, 19421991 head bronze 52 x 18. In response we, and our devoted artists, are donating 50% of the proceeds of sales to the alexandra society for the care and welfare of the aged and disabled persons.
The complex composition of ascending figures seems almost ceremonial in nature. He received no formal art training but while being treated at the charles hurwitz south african national tuberculosis. Zwelidumile geelboi mgxaji mslaba dumile feni was born on 21 may 1942 in the. Zwelidumile jeremiah mgxaji is better known as dumile feni. Jan 10, 2014 dumile feni known as dumile, for instance, became a master of drawing, often in ballpoint pen. Its like a series of overwhelming chords in a familiar requiem. Dumile fenis guernica hits you in the solar plexus. Dumile feni biography by sophia reuss south african history online. Dumile feni biography by sophia reuss south african history. The exploration of the outside world has made great progress and changed our lives profoundly through science and technology, yet the exploration of the inside world seems to have lost momentum. This lavishly illustrated, fullcolour book is the most comprehensive collection of dumile fenis work to date and a tribute to the retrospective exhibition run by the johannesburg art gallery in 2005, which toured south africa and stems from years of thorough research. Sue williamson and ashraf jamal, art in south africa. Zwelidumile geelboi mgxaji mslaba dumile feni may 21, 1942 1991 was a south african contemporary visual artist known for both his drawings and paintings that included sculptural elements as well as sculptures, which often depicted the struggle against apartheid in south africa.
He is one of a group of progressive durban artists who forged a path towards the future despite the ongoing political and social constraints facing a generation of black artists who were coming to maturity during the turbulent years following the soweto uprising of 1976. While his date of birth varies substantially in various sources, from 1939 to 1942, prince mbusi dube confirms his birth year as 1942. Anc stalwart pallo jordan once wrote about feni, born zwelidumile feni in 1942, in the foreword to a book edited by prince mbusi dube, that. However, the actual focus of the picture is the little girl, patiently hoping to. Dumile, the sculptor, told me that once in the country he saw a cow being killed. The collection lane put together for johannesburg was displayed in london in 1910 prior to being sent to south africa.
Dumile zwelidumile mxgazi feni mhlaba my son my son, recto. Pdf dumile feni retrospective gavin younge academia. This exhibition rekindled interest in one of south africas most iconic artists, stressing the importance of chabani manganyi gripping biography the beauty of the line. A black aesthetic curated by same mdluli my view by robyn. Artist in exile, written and published by bruce campbellsmith in association with art on paper in 2004. In the spirit of the harlem renaissance and sparks of resistance, flames of change.
By the mid1970s kentridge was making prints and drawings. You can share individual items, entire shopping carts, and shopping lists. Themed around opening nights, he makes tongueincheek reference to the art world in arcane and witty fashion. The beauty of the line the life and times of dumile feni david. Textured, nuanced and always thought provoking, with a delightful interplay of composition and light, halletts career is an enthralling testament to the intrinsic dignity of mankind, from the. Photograph of gerard sekoto courtesy of the gerard sekoto foundation. This lavishly illustrated, fullcolour book is the most comprehensive collection of dumile fenis work to date and a tribute to the retrospective exhibition run by the. Feni lived in exile and extreme poverty for most of his art career. Mar 17, 2019 judus mahlangus etching baptism on the other side of the gallery shows a mastery of the sugar lift etching and the composition that is about crowd, song and direction.
Office depot brand composition book marble 7 12 x 9 34. A discussion on dumiles work or another artists work which reflects on. Dumile feni known as dumile, for instance, became a master of drawing, often in ballpoint pen. A black aesthetic curated by same mdluli my view by. The foundation collection, which included works by claude monet, alfred sisley, auguste rodin, sir john everett millais. Dramatic tones of greens, reds, purples, and yellows dominate and run throughout this exhibition linking one image to the next. There, he met dumile feni whose drawings had a major impact on kentridges work. Sep 12, 2014 anc stalwart pallo jordan once wrote about feni, born zwelidumile feni in 1942, in the foreword to a book edited by prince mbusi dube, that the artists personal life and experience as a.
Grosvenor gallery will be exhibiting the work of south african artist. Prince mbusi dube is an art collections and exhibitions officer with the ekurhuleni metropolitan municipality in gauteng, south africa. The limited knowledge of his art derives primarily from the few major works that were acquired by south african museums in the mid 1960s before he left south africa in 1968. The artist also continues his lithographic series of tributes in which he pays homage to south africas most illustrious artists such as dumile feni, david koloane and marlene dumas. There was a composition of a prisoner, of a victim of a group of figures. Gallery momo in cape town recently held a special exhibition of south african artist dumile feni s work, including many neverbeforeseen pieces. To the same extent, a lot of wellintended junk has been sold as art in recent decades in order to help those making it. Figural study, verso recto signed, dated 1966 and inscribed with the title and terra cotta composition pen and ink 18 by 16cm excluding frame. The unique flavour of art in sa business in south africa. Dumile feni 19421991 composition for a gentleman, 1969 ball point on paper signed, dated and titled lower right 36 x 26 cm 14 18 x 10 14 in. May 01, 2006 a comprehensive account of the life and work of dumile feni this lavishly illustrated, fullcolour book is the most comprehensive collection of dumile feni s work to date and a tribute to the retrospective exhibition run by the johannesburg art gallery in 2005, which toured south africa and stems from years of thorough research. The focus of the picture is the dog and its owner because of the blurred image of the girl behind the glass.
Contents foreword 6 gerard sekoto 8, 20 george pemba 14, 38 jurgen schadeberg 18 ephraim ngatane 22 dumile feni 26 ezrom legae 30 sam nhlengethwa 32. In 1979, he created 20 to 30 monotypes, which became known as the pit series. What was special about him was that, at a time when artists connected with the struggle, where they were painting bodies being carried away, and fists and spears, and denunciations of the cruelty of the regime, dumile was concentrating on the dignity of the people, their tenderness, their. Overall, it is a book to in many respects this publication is a triumph buy, read and. Dumile feni, composition for a gentleman, 1969 grosvenor gallery. Andrew cox image analysis essay final draft eng 11125ftr 2. Despite this trend, the artist dumile feni focuses on being human in his work.