Vela Projects | Iya embovaneni vila ndini

Vela Projects is proud to present “Iya embovaneni vila ndini”, by Songezo Zantsi.

The title, translated loosely as “Take heed, you lazy fool, and witness the exemplary labour of the ants.,” invokes a phrase passed down from his grandfather. It becomes both metaphor and methodology: a call to observe, to labour, and to build meaning through sustained attention.

This ethos is reflected in Zantsi’s process through layered oil and pastel surfaces, he produces a hazy visual language that mirrors the fragility and persistence of memory.

Works such as Umkhondo, Uhambo, and Phantsi komthunzi navigate themes of journey, offering, and rest, while smaller panels function as meditative studies of light and environment. Across the exhibition, figures and landscapes merge, suggesting an inseparability between people and place, past and present.

Iya embovaneni vila ndini affirms Zantsi’s position as a significant voice in contemporary South African painting, showcasing a reflective body of work that extends his ongoing engagement with memory, realism, and self representation.

This show runs from 10th of April - 30th of May 2026.