Nicolas Hlobo: Standard Bank Young <strong>Art</strong>ist 2009 An artist inspired by everyday Theresa Smith Daily News, Tonight (Text from Newspaper) Nicolas Hlobo. Photo <strong>Art</strong>throb <strong>Art</strong> was not taught at school when Nicholas Hlobo grew up in Transkei, but his teachers always asked him to draw on chalkboard. His friends called him an artist, but he never considered a fine arts career even going so far as to take a computer course after matric, at the insistence of his father ?I had this feeling, this urge that I had to go and study art, but even then I wasn’t sure,? said Hlobo. It was only in 1998 that he started working on his portfolio and sat the entrance exam for Wits Technikon. <strong>Art</strong> that explores culture and taboo SOWETAN, Time Out (Text from Newspaper) After his successful solo exhibition at the ICA Gallery in Boston in the US, award-winning visual artist Nicholas Hlobo’s striking art has put him on par with the country’s best. Born in 1975, Hlobo uses rubber~ leather and ribbon to explore Xhosa traditions, homosexuality and other issues that are taboo for some people. When Time Out visited Hlobo at his studio in the heart of Jozi, he was putting the final touches to a huge piece that he calls Ingubo Yesizwe. He says the piece will be flown to London for an exhibition that opens there on December 8. Hiobo’s works are not easily understood by laymen, or laywomen for that matter. He explains: “I don’t want my work to be straightforward. I want people to understand it in their own way. When art is too obvious, it insults people’s intelligence.? His medley of artistic creations reflect liberalism, but on the whole they reflect reality. Culturally, however he is generally very open-minded. Hlobo says his latest work is inspired by the skin of cows, which is used metaphorically. He explains: ?Initially it started very small, but the idea grew. I used a cow as a metaphor. “If you look closely, the piece resembles a landscape. Cows represent wealth in <strong>African</strong> culture. So this piece is very central and it speaks a lot about <strong>African</strong> culture,” says Hlobo. “If you look at the shape of the piece, it is changing. It is like life and politics in this country”. “Life is not static, it changes all the time.” Hlobo has established his profile both in <strong>South</strong> Africa and internationally. Recently, he exhibited at the Nicholas Hlobo: Umphanda ongazaliyo 2008. Rubber, ribbon, zips, steel, wood, plaster. Photo: John Kennard Image courtesy of Michael Stevenson Studio Museum in Harlem in New York and at Haunch of Venison in London. He credits his success to his international exposure. “Traveling all over the world and being exposed to different cultures has made me grow. “The way I approach my work has also changed,” Hlobo says. Previously, he has produced interesting works such as Kwatsityw iziko, Izele, i.qqirha Lendlela, Vanity In the Making, Umtya Net hunga and Hermaphrodite. Hlobo is the winner of the Tollman Award for Visual <strong>Art</strong>s 2006. He recently won the Standard Bank Young <strong>Art</strong>ist Award for Visual <strong>Art</strong>s 2008. “I am truly honoured to have been chosen for the award and I will do my utmost to continually give audiences something new and innovative,” says the excited Hlobo. After his successful solo exhibition at the ICA Gallery in Boston in the US, award-winning visual artist Nicholas Hlobo’s striking art has put him on par with the country’s best. Born in 1975, Hlobo uses rubber~ leather and ribbon to explore Xhosa traditions, homosexuality and other issues that are taboo for some people. When Time Out visited Hlobo at his studio in the heart of Jozi, he was putting the final touches to a huge piece that he calls Ingubo Yesizwe. He says the piece will be flown to London for an exhibition that opens there on December 8. Hiobo’s works are not easily understood by laymen, or laywomen for that matter. He explains: “I don’t want my work to be straightforward. I want people to understand it in their own way. When art is too obvious, A B.Tech in Fine <strong>Art</strong>s followed and today the 34-year-old has exhib ited his art - solo and as part of a group -all over the world, including Rome, London and New York. Hiobo has gained an international reputation for his experimental use of materials, using non conventional, found materials such as rubber or leather to tell his stories. “I draw with a knife,” he said. The Joburg resident draws inspiration from things around him. “Nature, architecture, dance especially, performance art ... I’m inspired by my surroundings and the city I live in.? What does winning this award mean to you? I’m very grateful to be acknowledged, encouraged and motivated to work harder I view it as a way of saying to me ?thank you for contributing towards writing our cultural history?. It’s like someone has pressed the accelerator and now I have to tell more stories to share my culture with the world. What do you bring to your art form? I’d say it’s my courage to tackle the subjects that I do, celebrating my identity and my heritage. My identity as in my ethnic identity as a Xhosa, then being a homosexual man and thirdly my <strong>South</strong> <strong>African</strong> Nicholas Hlobo: Umphanda ongazaliyo 2008. Rubber, ribbon, zips, steel, wood, plaster. Photo: John Kennard Image courtesy of Michael Stevenson identity My national identity is my ethnic heritage but also includes my colonial heritage and all the influences of being <strong>South</strong> <strong>African</strong>. Some people prefer if we all stayed away from talking about being black, or Xhosa or <strong>South</strong> <strong>African</strong>, some of my friends say I’m digging a hole for myself But I find it important that we acknowledge difference, because our differences are what makes us a diverse nation. To me, my work and the material I use are an attempt to challenge visual arts or fine arts conventions. What is a drawing supposed to look like? Must it be in pen or pencil? Why not cut it? Isn’t that a drawing? Why not use rubber instead of casting with clay or carving stone? Why not use something else, something metaphoric. Whatever I use, -it’s there to add to the story I’m telling. Who has been your greatest inspiration? My grandmother my mother’s mother After she died, it was my other grandmother Any ideas what you’ll present in Grahamstown” I’ve got some ideas, it’s like baking bread, I’m still waiting for the dough to rise. Then I’ll knead it again and put it in the pan. it insults people’s intelligence.? His medley of artistic creations reflect liberalism, but on the whole they reflect reality. Culturally, however he is generally very open-minded. Hlobo says his latest work is inspired by the skin of cows, which is used metaphorically. He explains: ?Initially it started very small, but the idea grew. I used a cow as a metaphor. “If you look closely, the piece resembles a landscape. Cows represent wealth in <strong>African</strong> culture. So this piece is very central and it speaks a lot about <strong>African</strong> culture,? says Hlobo. “If you look at the shape of the piece, it is changing. It is like life and politics in this country. “Life is not static, it changes all the time.” Hlobo has established his profile both in <strong>South</strong> Africa and internationally. Recently, he exhibited at the Studio Museum in Harlem in New York and at Haunch of Venison in London. He credits his success to his international exposure. “Traveling all over the world and being exposed to different cultures has made me grow. “The way I approach my work has also changed” Hlobo says. Previously, he has produced interesting works such as Kwatsityw ?iziko, Izele, i.qqirha Lendlela, Vanity In the Making, Umtya Net hunga and Hermaphrodite. Hiobo is the winner of the Tollman Award for Visual <strong>Art</strong>s 2006. He recently won the Standard Bank Young <strong>Art</strong>ist Award for Visual <strong>Art</strong>s 2008. “I am truly honoured to have been chosen for the award and I will do my utmost to continually give audiences something new and innovative” says the excited Hlobo
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