The Gallery for African Studies presents a solo exhibition by Simphiwa Mbonyoza – ”In the Fields”. Simphiwa Mbonyoza was born in 1989 in Butterworth in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. Simpiwa is a talented and well-known ceramic sculptor, who often sculpts on a large scale. His masterful expertise in creating rich textures in his ceramic sculptures allows him to explore the relationships and interactions between the present and the past, through paying respect to the traditions and memory of his ancestors, especially those of the Xhosa. In his work, he draws inspiration from contemporary and historical influences, and shares his heritage through a unique and contemporary perspective.
The installation Emasimini [בתרגום מזולו: בשדות] Includes and details the daily agricultural and cultural activities of the Kusa tribe [Xhosa] in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. For them the land was the source of wealth, which provided all their basic needs. Historically, women played a huge role in the formation of this culture, as they performed most of the roles in the absence of their husbands, sometimes even in their presence. Simpiwa observed the power of women to nurture and protect their families, and to him this reinforced the fact that they were probably the most powerful ancestors of all.
Simphiwa from Bunyoza, credit: Simphiwa from Bunyoza
Simphiwa from Bunyoza, credit: Simphiwa from Bunyoza
Mbonyoza exhibited in many exhibitions around the world, including at the Marianne Boesky Gallery in Aspen, Colorado, USA and at the branches of Gallery 1957, in London, Accra and Ghana. He is the recipient of awards and artist residency programs such as: Anderson Ranch Arts Center 2021; The Red Clay Faction Award and the Oscar Jacobson Award from the University of Oklahoma 2019 and an artist residency program at the French organization AIR Vallauris in 2017. Simpiwa was also invited to participate in a two-year artist residency program at the well-known Archie Bray Foundation in Montana, USA.
These days Mbonyoza is in Israel in the artist residency program, the Africa First residency led by Serge Tirosh who also initiated collaborations with the ceramics department at Bezalel in Jerusalem and Shenkar College in Ramat Gan. Mbonyoza attaches great importance to sharing and spreading his cultural roots through the installation he created, which also serves as his voice among the Israeli art community. Simpiwa Mbonyoza: ‘It is a great experience to be a visiting artist in Israel, to meet students, teachers and artists, to promote my work and to create monumental sculptures. The works I created here focus on my ancestors and how I see them in my spirit, where they reside and how they presented their ideologies. The form of the minotaur [בפסליי] combines different elements from this culture’.
The Gallery for African Studies – Solo Exhibition II Simphiwa of Bunyoza – in the fields
curator: Idit was born
opening: Friday, September 9 at 12:00
locking: 6.10.22
At the Gallery for African Studies – Migdal Alrov, 22nd floor – 3 Shadel St., Tel Aviv
Opening hours: Sunday-Thursday 17:00-10:00 – admission is free
For more details: www.africanstudiesgallery.org