By Staff Reporter
The 40-year old Sbonelo Tau Luthuli is an award winning visual artist, he graduated with a National Diploma in Fine Art at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) in 2011. He is a regular participant in group exhibitions and showcases his works in exhibitions across the country and the world – including participating in “Earth Revelations: A Conversation in Clay” in 2012 in New York. In 2013 he was awarded a Highly Commended Certificate at the Ceramics Southern Africa’s Regional Exhibition held in Durban following the 2012 Merit Award at the Ceramics Southern Africa’s Regional Exhibition which was held at the Art Space still in his hometown. These prestigious awards followed his best year in 2010 when he was a Premier Award winner at the Ceramics Southern Africa’s National Exhibition which was held at The Gallery at Grande Provence in the Western Cape. He has participated in arts in residence at Nafasi Art Space in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, in 2020. His work has been collected by Iziko Museum of Cape Town and many private collectors.
The artist profoundly says: “My work arises from a contextual and spiritual base that allows me to unravel, bring to the surface and navigate a path of creative impulses. These impulses draw their character from love, anger, hate, pain, resolve and happiness. Each work, as it is in the process towards completion, is modelled with the spiritual powers that I experience as an artist. The work heals, endows and interacts with my mental, physical and emotional state of wellbeing. In this way, my work reveals how I look at the spirituality underpinning life in general and how this has affected my own personal life.
“What becomes apparent is that most works depict the painful path that I have trod and through which I have survived many challenges. The works reflect my history and that of indigenous peoples of Africa and life in general as people embark on the fight for survival. The critical part for me is the unbundling of the lies that one was exposed to when growing up and the truth that was not revealed to us. My depiction draws its content from religious, political, traditional practices, heritage, customs and aspects of the dynamics of life in general. The enhancement of the work with texture and detail can be aligned to the ways our ancestors are recognised in ritualistic incisions and scarification on the body. This practice is preceded by an agreement, which is spiritually anchored, between the living and the ancestors.”
The following are some of the exhibitions he has participated in:
- 2020: Nafasi Art Space, Mmino wa udongo, Dar Esalaam, Tanzania
- 2018: Hermanus FynArts, Hermanus, Cape Town
- 2016: Carnival: Durban Essence festival, Articulate Africa, South Africa.
- 2016: Song of the Soil (solo exhibition),Constitution Hill Woman’s Jail, Johannesburg.
- 2015: Song of the Soil (solo exhibition), 6 Spin Street Restaurant, Cape Town.
- 2015: Song of the Soil (solo exhibition), UCT Irma Stern, Cecil Road, Rosebank, Cape Town
- 2014: Song of the Soil, (solo exhibition), Durban Art Gallery, Durban, KwaZulu Natal.
- 2014: Decorex Joburg Exhibition, (group exhibition) Gallagher Convention Centre Midrand, Johannesburg.
- 2014: Adelaide Tambo School Charity Auction (group exhibition) Strauss and Co. Summer Place, Johannesburg.
- 2014: Decorex Durban Exhibition (group exhibition) held at Durban Exhibition Centre.
- 2013: The Adelaide Collection Exhibition (a group exhibition) Sandton Civic Gallery (N. Mandela Square, Sandton) Johannesburg.
- 2013: 15th Durban Business Fair (group exhibition) Durban Exhibition Centre / ICC in Durban.
- 2013: Ceramics Southern Africa Regional (group exhibition) KZNSA in Durban
- 2013: ThereAfter (group exhibition) Durban University of Technology, Steve Biko Gallery in Durban.
- 2012: C3°1012: EARTH REVELATIONS. A Conversation in Clay (group exhibition) Amaridian Gallery in NewYork
- 2012: Corobrik National Ceramics Exhibition (group exhibition) Pretoria art Museum
- 2012: Sasol New Signature Emerge (a group exhibition) Pretoria Art Museum.
- 2012: Ceramics Southern Africa Regional (group exhibition) at Art Space Durban.
- 2011: Izikhwepha Zethu (Our Strength) group exhibition, Durban Art Gallery.
- 2010: Ceramics Southern Africa National (group exhibition) Grande Provence Western Cape.
- 2005: First Touch Group Exhibition, Bat Centre in Durban.
His collections include the following:
- 2016: Justice Albie Sachs, Personal collection, Ihubo Lengabadi/ Song of the Soil, (Ceramic pot)
- 2016: Iziko Museum of South Africa, National Gallery. Art of technique, (Ceramic bowl).
- 2016: Iziko Museum of South Africa, National Galley. Design Ukhamba, (Ceramic pot).
- 2016: Iziko Museum of South Africa, National Galley. Mental Physical and Spiritual Cleanliness/ Enyokeni (Ceramic pot)
- 2016: Iziko Museum of South Africa, National Galley. Styles, Schools and Movements, (ceramic pot)
- 2016: Gita Sahgal, Personal collection Ufana nento – embazane/ It looks like a girl, (Ceramic pot)
- 2015: Iziko Museum of South Africa, Incwadi kababa/ My father’s book, (Ceramic pot)
- 2015: Persona collection, My voice/ A book of love. Izwi Lami/ Incwadi yothando, Ceramic pot)
- 2010: Iziko Museum of South Africa. A Brush with Death. (Ceramic vessel / Ukhamba)
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Contact Sbonelo Tau Luthuli on +27 78 158 2321 or email him at thekingcoil@gmail.com. Follow Sbonelo Tau Luthuli on his page, Facebook