Nhlapo explores the Politics of the ‘Self’- an exploration of his personal history in an African and global context. The artist draws inspiration from landscape paintings, portraits and photographs from his family photo albums and the immediate surroundings of his hometown Frankfort in the Free State. The imagery deals with concepts of nostalgia, community, survival and decolonization. Portrait, interior, exterior and landscape juxtapose to underline the fugitive nature of time. The skilled and compassionate portrayal of the people and places he draws and paints, in diffused and subtle colour harmonies, create a mood of introspection, but also confronts the viewer with serious issues around land expropriation and the trauma and transformation of a community in Post-Apartheid South Africa.
This show runs from 2nd - 30th of May 2026.
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Gallery 2 Presents TEARS ARE ONLY WATER - Nhlanhla Nhlapo
Nhlapo explores the Politics of the ‘Self’- an exploration of his personal history in an African and global context. The artist draws inspiration from landscape paintings, portraits and photographs from his family photo albums and the immediate surroundings of his hometown Frankfort in the Free State. The imagery deals with concepts of nostalgia, community, survival and decolonization. Portrait, interior, exterior and landscape juxtapose to underline the fugitive nature of time. The skilled and compassionate portrayal of the people and places he draws and paints, in diffused and subtle colour harmonies, create a mood of introspection, but also confronts the viewer with serious issues around land expropriation and the trauma and transformation of a community in Post-Apartheid South Africa.
