Sculptor Pitika Ntuli has been honoured with an award from the South African Traditional Music Achievement Awards.
South Africa (26 August 2022) – Talented, international award-winning sculptor Pitika Ntuli has received an award from the South African Traditional Music Achievement (SATMA) Awards. He is an incredible artist, with his first live exhibition taking place in October.
In 2021, Ntuli was awarded the Global Fine Art people’s choice “You-2″ award from the seventh annual Global Fine Art Awards (GFAA). Ntuli’s exhibition took place online due to the pandemic but, combined with his powerful poetry and writings, makes an impactful impression on even the most novice art critics.
Now, the award from SATMA adds to his growing list of incredible accomplishments. This year marks the 17th award season and saw an overwhelming number of submissions for 2022. The awards work towards preserving heritage and celebrating traditional musicians in South Africa. The theme is “My Culture, Your culture and One nation“.
Ntuli was honoured alongside retired SABC News anchor Noxolo Grootboom, struggle icon Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, and the sister of Hector Pieterson, who was the youngest victim of the 16th of June 1976 shooting, Antoinette Sithole.
The Melrose Gallery, currently working with Ntuli and his latest sculptures, shared the happy news of his award.
“In October, we launch Pitika Ntuli’s Global Fine Art Award-winning solo exhibition ‘Azibuyele Emasisweni’ (Return to the Source) at Oliewenhuis Art Museum and would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Pitika on his much-deserved SATMA Award.” – The Melrose Gallery.
Ntuli’s works are underlined with political and spiritual references, and each of his sculptures is accompanied by a poem. He was born in 1940 in Springs and grew up in Witbank in Mpumalanga.
His latest, upcoming exhibition, Azibuyele Emasisweni (Return to the Source), makes use of bones and poetry, and it has captivated the international fine art community.
“I do not copy nor work like nature. I work with nature. Bones are vital, as in imbued with life, and it this life that they possess that possesses me when I work. We are partners. Bones, like wood, have definite forms to work with. I do not oppose their internal and external directions, I externalise their inherent shapes to capture the beauty and the truth embedded in them, in other words I empower the bones to attain their own ideal,” – Pitika Ntuli
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