Cue Online (Grahamstown)
Remy Raitt
5 July 2009
You would never guess Nicholas Hlobo was the winner of this year’s Standard Bank Young Artist of the Year award.
“It was a beautiful kick in my butt - not an abusive kick, rather a great chance to make new work and lift my standards a little,” he says, gently puffing on a cigarette.
His humble nature dispels any assumptions one might have of a winner of such a prestigious accolade. His exhibition, Umshotsho (a traditional party for young people), which consists of eight giant sculptures made of car tyre tubing, lace, organza and ribbon, is a “part of a celebration of my identity as a South African”. Hlobo, who grew up in the Transkei, said his insides jiggled a bit when he realised his art would be displayed in the Eastern Cape. He recalls that he was “a little intimidated but happy”.
The exhibition explores Hlobo’s identity as a Xhosa man and his connections to his heritage. “I felt like I was slipping away from my culture. I even started dreaming in English and that freaked the hell out of me,” he says. Hence the creation of these “little creatures”, as he calls them.
“I hope my work might encourage other people to go out and enjoy the idea of a diverse, multicultural society.” Perhaps this potential to encourage is what won him the Young Artist nod.
Says Hlobo: “Being identified as a promising young artist has prompted me to show [the judges] that I am worth that accomplishment. Working hard on the pieces is a nice way of saying thank you. Even when you are straining, you have to make it seem easy.”
Hlobo began Umshotsho in January and put the final touches to the show the day before the Festival began. But, according to Hlobo, these mad rushes are all part of the art business and the creation of the works is not the only part of the process that keeps him on his toes.
Staying close to the tree
“Art is a crazy business, art in general anyway. We take joy in it but it’s not easy. You have to find a balance between being satisfied with what you are creating and satisfying the next person.”This is something he has achieved.
On yesterday’s walkabout, audiences critically engaged with the works, queuing up to quiz Hlobo about the significance of his wildly provocative sculptures, their large size and puzzling forms encouraging viewers to move closer. But Hlobo remained fairly hushed about his thoughts on the works, preferring to hear the views of the audience.
“It’s more interesting when you see what I don’t. When I tell you, it closes the door on your ideas and ability to dream and be Alice.”
And dreaming is an important part of the process for the young artist. This achievement has allowed him to materialise and deal with issues that have been floating about inside of him. Hlobo says he is looking forward to the year ahead, travelling around South Africa, exhibiting his art.
“It will be good for me, going to different places will educate me,” he says. And, while he is busy learning about other cultures and how they relate to him, his art will serve as a reminder to South Africans not to let their roots wander too far from the tree.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2009 Cue Online. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
