A retrospective of celebrated South African artist Esther Mahlangu opened this week in Cape Town. Read more … Image via Twitter @unclescrooch
Esther Mahlangu: Five things to know about the world-renowned artist
Esther Mahlangu has added her signature touch to a Rolls Royce Phantom and has inspired young artists through her intricate Ndebele artwork.
A retrospective of celebrated South African artist Esther Mahlangu opened this week in Cape Town. Read more … Image via Twitter @unclescrooch
On Saturday 19 March, world-renowned Ndebele artist Esther Mahlangu sustained bruises to her face after she was attacked by an unknown man in her Mpumalanga home. It is reported that the man punched the 87-year-old artist in the face and ran off with her firearm and money.
Mahlangu is lauded as one of Mzansi’s best artists and has been awarded honorary doctorate degrees from two universities in South Africa. Here are five things to know about her.
ALSO READ: Shameful! Ndebele artist Esther Mahlangu BEATEN in home invasion
1. ESTHER MAHLANGU’S WORK WITH CARS
In 1991, Esther Mahlangu became the first woman and the 12th artist to contribute to the BMW Car Project. After working on a BMW 525i, she was commissioned in 2016 to add her signature touch to a BMW 7 Series.
“When BMW sent me the panels to paint, I could see the design in my head and I just wanted to get started,” said Mahlangu in 2016.
In 2020, Mahlangu became the first South African artist to add her Ndebele-inspired artwork to the interior of a Rolls Royce Phantom.
2. A STEP IN FASHION
A pair of Air Jordan 1 sneakers customised by Esther Mahlangu, valued at R7.7 million, were on display at the Expo 2020 Dubai. Mahlangu painted the sneakers using a chicken feather.
The Ndebele artist was commissioned by Prince Menzi Mthethwa, the host of the Ayashisa Amateki documentary series about sneaker culture in South Africa, to create the artwork.
“It has given, not just the Ndebele culture, but other cultures a voice to be heard, a sense of pride. Millennials and Gen Zs aren’t visiting museums as much, tectonic plates have shifted, the sneaker serves as a museum itself,” Mthethwa told Business Insider.
3. EXHIBITIONS ALL OVER THE WORLD
Esther Mahlangu has displayed her intricate artworks all over the world, including the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in the United States.
In November 2021, she opened a solo exhibition at Almine Rech in Paris where she exhibited a series of paintings she had created in the last three years.
“One can immediately recognise the South African painter’s geometric style and dynamic colour intricacies,” said art critic Marie Maertens.
4. ESTHER MAHLANGU’S NATIONAL ORDERS
In 1986, Esther Mahlangu was invited to France to create murals for an exhibition of contemporary art after French researchers saw paintings in her house. The French Order of Arts and Letters was bestowed on her in 2019.
Other South Africans who have received the prestigious order include musician Johnny Clegg and artist William Kentridge.
Mahlangu was awarded the Order of Ikhamanga in Silver in 2006 for her contribution to the Ndebele arts.
ALSO READ: SA artist Nelson Makamo stuns Kelly Rowland with solo exhibition ‘Blue’ [photos]
5. INSPIRING A NEW GENERATION OF ARTISTS
With the aim of inspiring the youth, Esther Mahlangu started an art school in KwaMhlanga, Mpumalanga where she mentors young artists.
According to SAHistory, Mahlangu funds the school herself and teaches the artists how to paint straight lines freehanded, how to use their fingers and how to paint with chicken feathers.
Tags:
