An artist from KwaZulu-Natal is ‘bringing the sun’ to London, and is set to showcase his vibrant, culturally-inspired works as part of a solo show.
London (09 July, 2023) — From Botha Hills, KwaZulu-Natal to Great Britain, artist Sthenjwa Luthuli is painting his way through and to the world. However, what makes Luthuli stand out for many is the fact that the KZN artist takes his roots wherever he goes, and his latest exhibition is an ode to exactly that.
Set to exhibit his works at a solo show ‘Inzalo Ye Langa: Birthplace of the Sun’ at Unit London gallery, Luthuli will bring the sun to London come 25 July.
Inspired by African history and culture, Luthuli’s second solo exhibition with the gallery is dedicated to stories that aren’t often told to the rest of the world on their turfs, including core African culture, history and ancient traditions.
The exhibition takes its name from ‘InzaloYe Langa’, or’ Birthplace of the Sun’, which relates to a traditional name for a series of stones believed to be the oldest manmade structure in the world.
The exhibition will present a series of Luthuli’s meticulously hand carved and painted pieces all inspired by cultural history. Colours and beads are inspired by traditional healing methods for the wood carved artworks—something Luthuli hopes will ignite curiosity for his audience. He also hopes the works will inspire a desire for people to reconnect with their African heritages.
A sustainable artist too, Luthuli uses recycled waste to create his works where leftover sawdust is transformed to create a sculpture texture, creating the 3D pieces.
In reference to important ancient traditions from his own heritage, Luthuli uses unique figures to represent the missing names and identities of the ones who came before him, lost to time and colonisation.
While Luthuli tells stories of the past, another artist based in Johannesburg is using his creativity to tell stories of the future; gearing up to raise funds to positively impact the futures of numerous young South Africans.