Azikhwelwa Multi-colour photo-lithograph.
49cm x 38cm
Edition size: 25
Hard at work I Multi-colour photo-lithograph.
49cm x 38cm
Edition size: 25
Hard at work II Multi-colour photo-lithograph.
49cm x 38cm
Edition size: 25
The Compounds Multi-colour photo-lithograph.
49cm x 38cm
Edition size: 25
Whites only area Multi-colour photo-lithograph.
49cm x 38cm
Edition size: 25
The shebeen Multi-colour photo-lithograph.
49cm x 38cm
Edition size: 25
The grinding stone Multi-colour photo-lithograph.
49cm x 38cm
Edition size: 25
The coal shed Multi-colour photo-lithograph.
49cm x 38cm
Edition size: 25
Stop it Verwoerd Multi-colour photo-lithograph.
49cm x 38cm
Edition size: 25
Skipping Multi-colour photo-lithograph.
49cm x 38cm
Edition size: 25
Sharpeville massacre Multi-colour photo-lithograph.
49cm x 38cm
Edition size: 25
Pass raid Multi-colour photo-lithograph.
49cm x 38cm
Edition size: 25
Near the bus stop Multi-colour photo-lithograph.
49cm x 38cm
Edition size: 25
Sharpeville massacre Multi-colour photo-lithograph.
49cm x 38cm
Edition size: 25
Migrant labourers Multi-colour photo-lithograph.
49cm x 38cm
Edition size: 25
Mbombela Multi-colour photo-lithograph.
49cm x 38cm
Edition size: 25
Humiliation Multi-colour photo-lithograph.
49cm x 38cm
Edition size: 25
A series of prints which are all of the same size. Paper size 49cm x 38cm,
image size 20cmm x 28cm. Each print is between four and seven colours. Printed
by hand as colour photo lithographs from pre-sensitised aluminium plates.
Edition size is 25 of each print in the series. The images draw on historical
work, mainly from the photographers Jurgen Shadeburg, Peter Magubane, David
Goldblatt and Ernest Cole. Nhlengethwa has also made use of images from his
personal family archive in this series which explores his childhood and youth
within the context of South Africa at the time. Thus the political, social,
economic and personal are highlighted in separate images in the series. The
prints combine collage, painting and drawing.
NEW INTERIORS SERIES (2003)
Tribute to Dumisani Mabaso nine colour lithograph 57 x 76.5 cm
Edition 50
Tribute to George Pemba twelve colour lithograph 57 x 76.5 cm
Edition 50
Tribute to Gerard Sekoto twelve colour lithograph 57 x 76.5 cm
Edition 50
Tribute to Esta Mahlangu ten colour lithograph 57 x 76.5 cm
Edition 50
Tribute to Robert Hodgins four colour lithograph 57 x 76.5 cm
Edition 50
Sam has revisited the interior theme from a new angle. In his first series of
interiors Sam dealt with personal memories of interior spaces. In this series he
extends the concept of prints as a tribute to those that have inspired him and
focuses on a selection of South African artists. Sam studied at Rorkes Drift
with Dumisani Mabaso and the two remain close friends. At the time that Dumi was
working on his series at the press, Sam was taken with the images that Dumi was
working on and so has included them in this print. George Pemba is one of the
grandfathers of South African art and Sam pays homage to the man who despite the
odds against him committed his life to the visual arts.
Gerard Sekoto holds a special place in Sam's heart as he exhibited with him
in the late 1980's just before Sekoto's death in exile. Esta Mahlangu has forged
a path for herself despite being a rural woman with limited formal education and
in so doing has been at the forefront of placing Ndebele Art on the
international art map. Like Sam, Mahlangu celebrates her culture and identity.
Robert Hodgins is an inspiration to all South African artists and seems to have
a limitless well of energy. In this print Hodgins has signed each of the two
little prints that Sam has done on the "wall" of the interior. Thus
adding to the print and in a humorous way appropriating it.
THE JAZZ SERIES (2002)
Tribute to Lemmy Special Mabaso seven colour lithograph
75 x 106 cm
Edition 50
Tribute to Sammy Davis Junior five colour lithograph
75 x 106 cm
Edition 50
Tribute to Miriam Makeba seven colour lithograph
75 x 106 cm
Edition 50
Inspired by
Ron Carter six colour lithograph
75 x 106 cm
Edition 50
Modern Jazz Quartet's Last Concert four colour lithograph
75 x 106 cm
Edition 50
Ode to Thelonius Monk five colour lithograph
75 x 106 cm
Edition 50
Tacet seven colour lithograph
75 x 106 cm
Edition 50
Tribute to Nina Simone five colour lithograph
75 x 106 cm
Edition 50
Dear Ella Fitzgerald six colour lithograph
75 x 106 cm
Edition 50
Inspired by Abdullah Ibrahim five colour lithograph
75 x 106 cm
Edition 50
Sam Nhlengethwa's first lithographs at The Artists' Press were a
series of five prints around the Jazz theme, and were published to coincide with
his exhibition as the Standard Bank Young artist of the year in 1994. This
series was very popular, and after repeated requests, Sam has returned to the
Jazz theme. The new set of ten prints are almost twice the size of the first
series and pay tribute to the great jazz artists who have inspired Sam over the
years. The prints are hand-printed on white Arches paper, with between 4 and 7
colours on each print. Sam drew directly on ball-grained aluminium plates using
Korns pencils and Tusche.
Sam Nhlengethwa - Brief statement on why I fuse jazz and
art.
Jazz simply inspires me. Of all the subjects that I have dealt with, none
has been re-visited like jazz. Jazz is second nature to me. I come from a
family of jazz lovers. My eldest brother, Ranky, was a jazz musician. I
used to hang around with him and his friends a lot. I still play the flute
that he gave me. I think at heart, I am a non-practising jazz musician!
Painting jazz pieces is an avenue or outlet for expressing my love for the
music. As I paint, I listen to jazz and visualize the performance. Jazz
performers improvise within the conventions of their chosen styles. In an
ensemble, for example, there are vocal styles that include freedom of
vocal colour, call-and-response patterns and rhythmic complexities played
by different members. Painting jazz allows me to literally put colour onto
these vocal colours.
Jazz is rhythmic and it emphasizes interpretation rather than composition.
There are deliberate tonal distortions that contribute to its uniqueness.
My jazz collages, with their distorted patterns, attempt to communicate
all of this. As a collagist and painter, fortunately, the technique allows
me this freedom of expression. Like a jazz musician who can depart from
the original melody altogether and improvise on its harmonic base, I
create a well-balanced final product with interesting textures,
perspective and dimensions from juxtaposing pieces from different
original backgrounds. What I am doing is not new though, as there are
other artists before me, who painted jazz pieces eg. Gerard Sekoto, Romare
Bearden, Henri Matisse.
The jazz musicians I chose inspire me. Their music is educational. Nina
Simone for instance, sings about the suffering of African Americans. I
enjoy her music and message. Modern Jazz quartets music is instrumental
but meaningful.
I buy jazz CDs and DVD's as part of my career. Miles Davis, Keith Jarrett,
John Coltrane feature highly in my collection and I also have their
autobiographies. Ron Carter made me love acoustic bass especially in his
album with Roberta Flack "The first time I ever saw your face" - I was 17
when I first listened to it and knew pretty little about love but I
enjoyed the instruments played.
In addition to the international jazz musicians in my collection, I have
a number of locals like Mirriam Makeba (or Mama Africa as she is
affectionately known), Lemmy "Special" Mabaso, Abdullah Ibrahim etc. Their
early music reminds me of Keith Jarrett's words: "Jazz is like a vehicle
that transports various traditions...".
Lemmy Maseko played the penny whistle with skill; Mirriam Makeba's
"Malaika" backed by overseas musicians became a hit. Abdullah Ibrahim is a
well respected pianist. You can bring together jazz musicians from
different backgrounds to perform and they will produce a stunning piece of
music!
Thank you,
Sam Nhlengethwa
MINE TRIP (1996)
Team Leaders III five colour lithograph 32.5 x 41.2 cm
Edition 40
Ingolovane single colour lithograph 28.7 x 28 cm
Edition 35
Maintenance five colour lithograph 56.5 x 76.3 cm
Edition 30
Underground six colour lithograph 43.5 x 28.5 cm
Edition 30
The Blue Carriage five colour lithograph 33.3 x 28 cm
Edition 45
In early 1996, Sam visited a number of coal, diamond and gold mines in South
Africa. He spent time underground, interacting with the miners who inspired him
to do this series. Through these images he seeks to give dignity to the
frequently forgotten miners whose lives are spent unearthing the mineral wealth
of South Africa.
The Mine Trip original lithographs have been handprinted from stones and
aluminium plates, sometimes with chine collé onto Arches and Somerset papers.
They are printed in editions ranging from twenty to forty five, with each
impression being signed by the artist.
INTERIORS (1998)
The Grey Door six colour lithograph 50 x 65 cm
Edition 50
A Hotel in Randfontein eight colour lithograph 50 x 65 cm
Edition 50
In this series of prints Sam started to explore interiors as a metaphor for
psychological space. The images are taken from his personal memories and reflect
spaces that influenced him while he was growing up,
1994/5
Homage to Jazz. Standard Bank Young Artist Award. Various venues.
1995
Senegalese Images. Goodman Gallery, Hyde Park, Jhb
1996
Mine Trip. Goodman Gallery, Hyde Park, Jhb
1998
Interiors. Goodman Gallery, Hyde Park, Jhb
2001
Jozi People. Goodman Gallery, Hyde Park. Jhb
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
1981
Civic Centre, Kwa-Thema, Springs
Haenggi Gallery, Jhb
1983
Shell Gallery, Jhb
1984
Fuba Gallery, Jhb
1985
Tributaries, Africana Museum, sponsored by BMW, Jhb
1986
The Thupelo show, Fuba Gallery, JhbFrankfurt, West Germany
Academy Gallery, Paris, France, with Gerard Sekoto, David Koloane, Dumisane Mabaso, Tony Nkotsi and Durant Sihlali
1987
Two-man show with Madi Phala: Fuba Gallery
Thupelo show in Botswana
The Art Foundation (Thupelo)
Cassirer Fine Art, Jhb
1988
Cassirer Fine Art, Jhb
1989
Two-man show: with Gerard Sekoto, Cassirer Fine Art, Jhb
Thupelo show, Fuba Gallery, Jhb
1997
Cross Over Johannesburg to Nantes held in Nantes, France
1998
Netherlands Architecture Institute, Rotterdam, Netherlands
The Art Salon, Bay Hotel, Cape Town
1999
Fast Forward Rewind, Van Reekun Museum, Apeldoorn, Netherlands
South African Trade Exhibition, Mauritius
Artery Association for Visual Arts, (Metropolitan Gallery), Cape Town
The Art Salon, Bay Hotel, Cape Town
2000
Two-man show with Zwelethu Mthethwa, Seippel Art Gallery, Cologne, Germany
The Art Salon, Bay Hotel, Cape Town
Artlook South Africa, Gahlberg Gallery, College of Du Page, Chicago, USA
Project Conflux, a touring exhibition started in Cape Town
2001
Lines of Connection, Cameroon
Two-man show Sam meets Zwelethu, a collaboration with Zwelethu Mthethwa, Goodman Galley, Jhb
The Art Salon, Bay Hotel, Cape Town
2002
Towards new Cultures, Trevi Exhibition Area, Bolzano, Italy Art City billboards exhibition, Jhb
COMMISSIONS
1991
Illustrations for the "Sunday Star" magazine
Cover illustration for Alex Civic association
1993
"Weekly Mail" Artists of South Africa Subscription promotion
1994
Paperback book cover design for "None to accompany me" by Nadine Gordimer
1995
Pope John Paul II's illustration, "Sunday Times Inside Magazine" Gauteng Provincial Legislature
1999
Fedsure Life Assurance Ltd.
1998
MTN Building (Sandton, Jhb)
2000
Daimler Chrysler Award for South African Jazz 2001, Illustration for CD cover, posters and invitations
COLLECTIONS
Mobil
Court (Cape Town)
Johannesburg
Art Gallery
Anglo
American (Jhb)
World
Bank (USA)
Botswana
Art Museum
MTN
Art Institute (Jhb)
Sasol
(Jhb)
The
German Art Museum (Frankfurt, Germany)
National
Gallery (Cape Town)
Durban
Art Gallery
Tatham
Art Gallery (Pietermaritzburg)
Gencor
(Jhb)
Standard
Bank Head Office (Jhb)
BMW
(Pretoria)
Mpumalanga
Legislature (Nelspruit)
Mercedes-Benz
(Jhb)
Telkom
Absa
Nedcor
(Jhb)
Johannesburg
Stock Exchange (Jhb)
SABC
(SA Broadcasting Corporation, Jhb)
Daimler
Chrysler (Pretoria)
Mr
Robert Loder (London, UK)
Mr
Harry Belafonte (USA)
Ms
Gay McDougall (USA) (Director: Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights)
Ms
Delfina for Delfina Studios (London, UK)
Mr
Leslie Israele (Director: M & L Distributors (Pty) Ltd. Cape Town)
Johannesburg
Consolidated Investments (JCI)
Dr
Msendane (RSA)
Numerous
works around South Africa and abroad
NOMINATIONS, AWARDS AND RESIDENCIES
1988
A.A Vita awards nominee (Jhb)
1991
A.A Vita Awards nominee (Jhb)
Triangle International Artists Workshop (New York, USA)
1992
A.A Vita Awards nominee (Jhb)
Delfina Studio Trust Summer Award (London, UK)
1993
Betrams VO Art for Africa Award finalist (Jhb)
Standard Bank Young Artist Award winner for 1994 (RSA)
1994
First National Bank Vita Awards nominee (Jhb)
TENQ African Workshop - Senegal (West Africa)
1995
African Studies Association conference, Florida (USA)
1996
First National Bank Vita Awards nominee (Jhb)
1999
Medicins Sans Frontiers project Art without Frontiers , Dubai (UAE) where 40 international artists took part in painting the worlds longest
painting to raise funds for MSF.
RELATED ACTIVITIES
1992
College of DuPage, [Glen Ellyn, Chicago, USA]: Conducting Liberal Arts Workshops and presenting lectures in collaboration with Associate
Professor Chuck Boone as part of the ARTLOOK S A project.
1996
Havanna, Cuba : participant in the filming of the Afro-Cuban Connection documentary
2000
MTN Art Institute Community project: Conducting art workshops in various schools around the country
Gerard Sekoto Foundation Community project: Involved in a mural painting project with students (Limpopo & Sophiatown)
Secure the Future: a Bristol Myers Squibb art project to promote HIV/AIDS research.
2001
Cameroon: Lines of Connection: an MTN Art Institute project - exhibiting and facilitating education workshops for students from Douala,
Cameroon.
Gerard Sekoto Foundation project in partnership with Mamelodi Heritage Foundation, De Beers and Pretoria Art Museum in a mural painting project
involving local students.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
The 20th Century Artbook (Phaidon Press Limited, 1999) ISBN 0 7148 3850. Page
336.
The Money Standard Vol. 1 No 4 1999. Page 26
FNB Vita Art Now 1995. ISBN 0 620 20197 5. Page 36
BORN:
09.01.55, Payneville, Springs, South Africa