-
Ndebele artist Dr Esther Mahlangu.
Wits Art Museum has partnered with BMW to celebrate the art work of Dr Esther Mahlangu in an exhibition.
The Ndebele art queen is best known for her colorful paintings.
The exhibition features over 100 artworks loaned from international collections, including her BMW Art Car, painted mannequins, a TV, and a series of prints created by her in collaboration with Nelson Mandela.
It was a joyful moment for Dr Mahlangu when she saw the BMW and other artwork she has done.
For Mahlangu, art is a calling. She used clay soil and chicken feathers back in the day and has been honored for the impact she made in the art space.
Exhibition curator, Nonotobeko Ntombela, says she went for Dr Mahlangu’s work for the incoming art generation.
“We got to know where we come from to understand where we are going. For me it takes a moment to understand people who’ve paved the way. We can understand the value of artists today. I am committed to give breath and time to their work, so that when we focus on other artists, we are building on a foundation and history that we understand,” explains Ntombela.
In 1991, Dr Mahlangu became the first African and the first woman to paint a BMW Art Car, joining the ranks of art legends like Andy Warhol, David Hockney and others.
The exhibition was set to inspire a new generation.
BMW says this is not a celebration only about past achievements, but a testament to an enduring legacy and continued impact of global arts.
BMW Group’s Thilosh Moodally says, “This is not a celebration only about past achievements but a testament to enduring legacy and continued impact of global arts.”
In 1989, Mahlangu gained international recognition when she was invited to participate in the Magicians de la Terre exhibition in Paris.
Mahlangu was invited there to paint a replica of her home, which generated much media and other international exposure.
Dr Mahlangu’s granddaughter says this means a lot them.
“This day is a big day for the family and for my grandmother as well. Because it brings so much joy to her, it reminds her of her days when she was a teenager, when she taught people how to paint … and umgwalo uyaphambili ngo gogo.”
The Ndebele paintings are known internationally, and gratitude is given to Gogo Esther Mahlangu.
