Umthwalo (own your crown) is a mixed media solo art exhibition by vonMASH. That will be showcased at Artivist in Braamfontein. Venue owner Kenzhero and HouseofRhythmn will feature on decks at the opening of the expo.
Artist name vonMash, is a 32-year-old visual artist from Ekurhuleni (Far East of Johannesburg) South Africa. “I Intially started doing art from a young age but started showing my work publicly in 2018 via instagram and thus the start of my current art career,” he said.
vonMash utilises new media (mixed media) to express himself. His work is heavily influenced by African mysticism as well as his childhood experiences of lucid dreaming. He draws a lot of inspiration from his personal view of life. African aesthetics, religion, social and political issues and the cosmic universe.
The work is a blend of collaged images, textures and distorted colours and shapes. Breathing life to a hyper digital collaging style he coined as “AFRIDELIC” art.
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The artist explains that “‘Umthwalo’ is a visual dialogue on hair, inviting us to explore the multiplicity of meaning in the tangible and abstract things we carry with us every day and how those meanings have been fabricated and threaded through with metaphor.”
As a result, the exhibition by vonMash uses collaborative multi-media artworks, to explore the ways in which our hair – and our choices and non-choices about our hair – is a binding thread.
By multiplying vonMash’s artworks, the artist works calls attention to the function of hair strands. As the strands which stitch together our past present future. Including playing a role in owning our true identity as Africans.
The vision for the work originated in a dreamscape of vonMash: “Own you crown!” the dream shouted. Through vonMash’s lens, empowerment with respect to our hair comes from our proclamation that “It is not just hair!”
Along with calling for a deepening of our historical context. vonMash wants his work to elevate and open the perspective of who we are as Africans. As well as, to shine a light upon our spiritual connection to the universe. As he says, “We are kings and queens.”
“I mostly use digital art as a form of self-expression because of the infinite possibilities the medium has. Heavily influenced by African aesthetics and psychedelic elements, with the use of symbolism to help push my message across, this also allows the viewer to interpret the pieces how they feel and is not as direct.
African aesthetics, rich vapour and psychedelic colours and textures, all come to life in one vibrant artwork (a style of which I coined as “AFRIDELIC” art),” vonMash expressed.
The artist brings to our attention that his craft seeks to reshape the old views of Africans and the diaspora. To empower and inspire as well as shine light upon our spiritual connection to the cosmic universe.
vonMash has also worked with a couple of household names in the media industry. He had already started showcasing his work in the public space via Instagram. This is from years back of honing his style.
“Since then; it has offered me the opportunity of working with the likes of Black Coffee(RSA), the late RikyRick(RSA), Hendrik Schwars (Germany) Dj Doowap (RSA), Tshego (RSA) and BandaBanda(RSA) just to name a few.
Collaborated with various artists, fashion stylists and photographers and having the opportunity to exhibit some of my work at the Norwest Gallery(USA) during Black History Month. As well as Exhibiting at AGOG Gallery(JHB) and having an online virtual exhibition with Fakúgesi for the African Digital festival.
With interviews and my works being featured on various online magazines such as Afro Punk, News24, CNN Africa, African French Presse, African Digital Art, RADAR Africa, ArtLink, Mishigan Radio, Slikouronlife, Hype Magazin”
Therefore, vonMash’s career as a young African emerging artist just gets better and better as time passes.
“I was also commissioned to create an artwork for GreenPeace Africa NPO awareness campaign which I loved doing because of the environmental awareness message it encapsulates,” says the visual artist.
The exhibition opens to the public on Thursday, August 4, and runs until September 30, 2022.