GOGO Esther Mahlangu is happy to bring her famous Ndebele BMW closer to home.
The BMW 525i Art Car, painted by gogo Mahlangu, was exhibited in Cape Town these past few months.
Now, it’s at the Wits Art Museum in Braamfontein, Joburg, closer to her home in KwaMhlanga, Mpumalanga.
Gogo Esther (89) became the first African woman to paint a BMW Art Car in 1991. This marks its historic return to Gauteng after more than 30 years. The car will be exhibited alongside some of her other paintings.
Gogo Esther Mahlangu says she loves travelling abroad.
The exhibition, titled: Then I Knew I Was Good at Painting: Esther Mahlangu, A Retrospective, will run from 20 November 2024 to 17 April 2025.
It launched on Monday, 18 November at the Wits Art Museum. The curator, Nontobeko Ntombela, enjoyed telling the artist’s story.
“Mahlangu is a living symbol of triumph against adversity. She’s among the first South African and women artists to become a global icon of the art world. Her pleasant demeanour and ability to inspire creativity and delight in many around the world have earned her a reputation as a matriarch and mentor of contemporary art.
ALSO READ :Â Mashudu klaps back at false allegations!
“Her approach to art has inspired generations of younger artists and reaffirms the call for Africa to take its rightful place at centre stage in the story of art,” Nontobeko said.
While gogo Esther didn’t say much at the exhibition, she listed some of her favourite countries she has visited.
“Places that I’ve been to and love in America are Washington DC, New York, California, and Pennsylvania,” she said.
She also shared how she learnt to paint.
“I learnt how to paint using soil and cow dung. We would mix them and start working,” she said.
Thilosh Moodally, director of Government Affairs and Communications at BMW Group South Africa, hopes the exhibition will inspire more artists.
“As an organisation driven by innovation and creativity, we’re proud to sponsor the exhibition. By bringing this exhibition to the vibrant streets of Braamfontein, we inspire a new generation of artists and enthusiasts. We’re proud to be associated with this remarkable project,” she said.
For more news and entertainment in the palm of your hand, follow our WhatsApp Channel via this link
0 Comments