Themba Khumalo
Themba Benedict Khumalo was born on 16 February 1987 in Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa. He graduated from Artist Proof Studio in printmaking, where he obtained a Design Foundation Certificate. He went on to do a professional printmaking development course under the sponsorship of Pinpoint One, at Artist Proof Studio in 2009 where he was an intern in the silkscreen unit and special project team. Khumalo is interested in exploring different mediums, such as charcoal drawings and painting.
Khumalo’ work is inspired by everyday day life. His visuals are stimulated by events he witnesses daily in the city such as everyday struggles, prospects and desires. He documents his interaction with the city as both an outsider and a city dweller. This dual tension is evident in his work; as he takes note of people who have come to the city in seek of the unknown. This is reflective in his work through his intense dark mark-marking and subtle texture of clouds, which evoke specific moods and emotions.
Khumalo’s work explores the dangers of Johannesburg while reflecting its beauty through its architecture and cityscape. Khumalo identifies in his work the importance of family and how they play an important role in one’s life. Although he hardly depicts human figures in his work, he uses pylons, cranes, and electric wires to represent movement, energy, and unity: portraying how electricity connects us all. Thus, informing his audience of his relationship with people, exploring feelings of connectivity and isolation within the city.
He has been involved in number of group exhibitions, commissions and special projects; such as painting murals in the Eastern Cape and being invited to exhibit in a group show at Isolate del Cinema festival in Rome, Italy. He has exhibited widely and been on various residencies internationally since 2016. Khumalo works as an independent artist.
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