Through the rotating ribbon, headless figures dance in dense patterned backgrounds, their hands grab and spread. These anonymous protagonists wear tight, fitted outfits, bound by their carefully sculpted environment, a metaphor for the South African community experience, and artist Sthenjwa Luthuli (formerly) found fruitful.
Luthuli is known for his wood block paintings, with bright colors and textures. Through meditation, a meticulous process, he digs out small pieces of MDF, allowing dense, intricate themes to hang over his characters, wrapped in a bunch of marks. The artist is particularly interested in the weak relationship between African spiritualism and the freedom and control of minority communities.
“Rebirth” (2025), Hand-carved Super Wooden Blocks Mixed Media and Paint, 138 x 184 cm
Next month at the Norval Foundation in Lutuli Cape Town Umkhangu Consider how birthmarks are considered as signs of ancestral existence or destiny, African cosmology and symbolism are used as a guide.
Umkhangu Open on September 11. Find more artists from Instagram.
“Genetics” Ulibofuzo (2025), hand-carved super wood blocks mixed media and paint, 138 x 184 cm“Unfinished Business” (2025), Hand-carved Super Wooden Blocks Mixed Media and Paint, 136 x 92 cm“The Story We Wear” (2025), Hand-carved Super Wooden Blocks Mixed Media and Paint, 136 x 92 cm“Palm” (2025), hand-carved super wood blocks mixed media and paint, 136 x 92 cm“Inner Spark” (2025), hand-carved super wood blocks mixed media and paint, 136 x 92 cm“Reincarnation” Ukphinda Uzalwe (2025), hand-carved super wood blocks mixed media and paint, 138 x 184 cm“Nature’s Unique Signature” (2025), Hand-carved Super Wooden Blocks Mixed Media and Paint, 185 x 185 cm“The Origins of the Past” (2025), Hand-carved Super Wooden Blocks Mixed Media and Paint, 138 x 184 cm“Different countries, different calls” (2025), hand-carved super wood blocks mixed media and paint, 275 x 184 cm“Continuous Legacy” ukuqhubeka kwefa (2025), hand-carved super wood blocks mixed media and paint, 138 x 184 cm
