Simphiwe Mbunyuza Residency in South Africa

There is something about Simphiwe’s work that strikes you when you behold it. It can’t quite be placed. The works transport your mind in different directions, but his language and skill of production are grounded and firm. One may think of Picasso and Miro or sculptures of Hepworth and Moore, but those are far-fetched associations. There are more obvious connections, particularly in the spiritual role of the works and their reliance on communicating with and through ancestors, to traditional African sculptures and ceremonial masks.

His masterful practice of richly textured, often large-scale, ceramic sculptures explores the relationships and interactions between the present and the past, paying tribute to traditions and the spirits of ancestors, particularly those of the Xhosa people.

He draws from both present and historical influences as a method of sharing his heritage through a unique, contemporary lens.
 
Mbunyuza  spent three months in Israel, splitting his time between the Ceramics and Glass Design department at the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design in Jerusalem, and the Shenkar College of Engineering, Design and Art in Ramat Gan. Besides creating a new body of work that reflects on the connections of Man with nature, particularly animals and the sea, Mbunyuza got to spend time with the graduating artists of this year’s class, explore the country, and meet with various curators.
 
His residency in Israel has been made possible thanks to a fruitful collaboration between a multitude of parties, including Gordon gallery, the School of African studies, and the ministries of interior, culture, and foreign affairs. A special thank you to the Israeli Ambassador in South Africa, Mr. Eli Belotserkovsky, without whom this unique cultural exchange would not have been possible.