An artistic collaboration A proud initiative of The House of Mandela
The House of Mandela is proud to present this moving collaboration between Mr Nelson Mandela and acclaimed visual artists. In 2001 Nelson Mandela created 5 drawings of hands in different poses. These artworks were titled: Struggle, Imprisonment, Unity, Freedom, Future and included a hand written motivation. The written motivation read as follows: These sketches are not so much about my life as they are about my own country. I drew hands because they are powerful instruments, hands can hurt or heal, punish or uplift. They can also be bound, but a quest for righteousness can never be repressed. In time, we broke open the shackles of injustice, we joined hands across social divides and national boundaries, between continents and over oceans. And now we look to the future, knowing that even if age makes us wiser guides, it is the youth that remind us of love, of trust, and the value of life - Nelson Mandela In 2004, acclaimed visual artists from around the world were each invited to create 6 artworks by working on top of prints created of Mr Mandela s works in their own style. This gave birth to what is known as The Unity Series. Dr Makaziwe Mandela, Mr Mandela s eldest daughter, and various of these artists have recently agreed to launch these artworks publicly for the first time, together with a special collector s edition print portfolio of their works.
ESTHER MAHLANGU (SA) BIOGRAPHY Born on November 11th, 1935, on a farm near Middelburg, in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa, Esther Mahlangu learned the skill of mural painting from her mother and grandmother. Her family was part of the Ndebele people, a warlike group of Nguni which moved down from the east coast of Africa to the region now occupied by the Kruger National Park. In their society, women competed by decorating their homes with pigments fashioned from different coloured clays, ash, and cow dung. Feathers and bundled twigs were used as brushes. Mahlangu s generation in the 40s, were the first to use commercially available paint, which added a new intensity to their mural artistry. Also, the possibility of new designs and new substrates opened up. Mahlangu has become known for her signature razorblade design, and she has incorporated many objects and aspects of modern life into her work. As far as substrates go - the sky was, literally, the limit. So far, Mahlangu s designs have appeared on everything from greeting cards to a BMW 525i and the tailfins of British Airways Boeings! Her contemporaries in these projects were the likes of Andy Warhol, David Hockney and Alexander Calder. Esther Mahlangu was the very first person to transfer Ndebele mural designs onto canvas, making her art portable, and giving people in galleries all over the world the chance to enjoy this vibrant art style first hand. She was discovered in 1989 by a travelling art historian, and invited to participate in a living art exhibition in the Pompidou Centre, Paris. She has never looked back. Mahlangu s work can now be found in galleries, corporate headquarters and private collections in every corner of the globe. When the artist is not travelling, she returns to live and work quietly in the village of Weltevrede, not far from her birthplace. Here she not only finds the space to develop new artworks, but passes down her philosophy and artistry to the young Ndebele women of her community, preparing them for the future. MOTIVATION Struggle The dancing Induna male inspires people to engage in the struggle. Two female figures carry pots of beer, to be drunk when the struggle is over. The women wear traditional blankets, with bands of bright colour. Brown signifies the soil upon which liberation should take place; orange denotes caution; blue the sky; red danger, and green - liberation. Imprisonment The building in which Mandela is imprisoned appears at the bottom of the work. He is kept in the dark, deprived of normal family life. People pray for Mandela s release. Red is used to show that his life is in danger; the black frame symbolizes his cell on Robben Island. Freedom The knife cuts loose the shackles. A traditional Ndebele flag is held by an old woman and a young girl, representing freedom and rejoicing at the release of Mandela. The sun shines again after dark years in jail, the light represented by a rainbow, promising sunshine after a storm. The central image of liberation is flanked by stylized knife sheaths: the one full, the other empty. Unity The rupture between white and black people caused by Apartheid has now gone and children of all cultures can play together. The tree in full bloom symbolizes renewal and the beginning of a new, prosperous life. Future In the centre on top is a new house not painted yet with a woman next to it cooking food for the workers. A big hand joins a small hand to show that we are now uniting as a nation. Black, white, old and young, everybody is planting new crops, preparing food, painting and decorating houses to celebrate new beginnings. (Ndebele traditionally paint fresh decorations onto their houses for special occasions.) The green signals the freedom Mandela bought for our children.
ESTHER MAHLANGU (SA) ARTWORK DETAILS i. 6 original artworks by artist ii. 95 signed sets of prints of artist s 6 works iii. Medium: Printing method and paper iv. Print Size: 59.2 x 42cm v. Presented in a special House of Mandela collector s edition portfolio box vi. Authentification: Presented with a certificate of authenticity signed by Dr Makaziwe Mandela vii. Print Set Price (Unframed): R85 000 plus 15% Vat viii. Originals Price: POA ORDER/ENQUIRE TERMS All works are limited editions and therefore sold subject to availability Contact craig@themelrosegallery.com to express interest in acquiring a set Payment via credit card or EFT No works will be released until payment is received in full These prices exclude shipping and framing The Melrose Gallery has been appointed by The House of Mandela to assist with the marketing and sale of The Unity Series Only 95 sets of prints of each artist s works will be available worldwide. This offer is subject to availability. The gallery will attempt to confirm availability within 72 hours of receipt of your order.
WILLIE BESTER (SA) BIOGRAPHY Born in 1956 in Montagu, a picturesque but poor village about two hours out of Cape Town, South Africa, Willie Bester has become one of the country s best known artists. He received no formal art training at all, apart from a year of part-time studies at the Community Arts Project in Cape Town in 1986. As a young boy Bester used his ingenuity to create presents for his friends from the pieces of scrap that he picked up on the streets and dumps of the township where he lived. And when he got a proper job as a dental assistant, he didn t give up on his artistic endeavours. Scrap metal, coke tins, unidentifiable rusty widgets all found their way into his gifts, and later, his collages. It takes a special eye and an optimistic spirit to create something out of nothing. Fortunately Bester found in the detritus of the Apartheid-era townships a treasure trove of artistic inspiration. Not surprisingly, he is an avid collector of junk. It is very difficult to throw away anything, as I always need these things in my paintings later, says Bester. The rubbish dumps are symbols of the community in which I have lived. No value was attributed by society to the people who were dumped here. To show that something beautiful can come from this environment, I make pictures out of the very objects that society has discarded. From 1976 until 1991 when he gave up his job as a dental assistant and became a full-time artist, Bester spent all his spare time on his art, and became respected as one of the leading resistance artists of the Apartheid era. Since 1991 Bester has exhibited extensively in group exhibitions throughout South Africa, as well as abroad, including seven solo-exhibitions and more than forty group exhibitions in countries like France, Italy, Germany, USA, Senegal and Switzerland. Bester is, according to Evelyn, his wife and manager, a consistent worker who hardly ever finishes his day empty handed. He can t seem to find enough ways to comment on aspects of South African history, as the titles of some of his works reveal: Apartheid Laboratory ; Ox Wagon. One of Bester s main themes seems to be his perception of people s lack of ability to change, in spite of the official political transformation in South Africa. According to Bester, some people have shown themselves unwilling to change, while others have tried, but have simply been unable to do so. And this is on both sides of the political spectrum. What I try to get behind is why it is so difficult for people to change from their old ways. It hasn t worked out the way I imagined. People who thought they were superior before haven t really changed. I try to find out through studying history what gives people the right to think that way. I try to find a solution, not to be disappointed, to reach an understanding, says Bester. Bester works mainly in mixed media collage and assemblage on board or wood, although, more recently, he has produced large free-standing sculptural pieces, constructed from waste metals and other objects. Layers of newspaper texts, graffiti, political slogans, tin cups, wire, ammunition cases, and his own photographs, are added to the basic structure, to add depth to his vision. Oil and enamel paint, often of figures, complete the picture. Although completely self-taught, Bester s eclectic technique has resulted in artworks that currently grace the world s most prestigious galleries and museums, and have fetched remarkable sums at auction in London s Sotheby s. He has also participated in numerous international Biennales and Art Fairs.
WILLIE BESTER (SA) ARTWORK DETAILS i. 6 original artworks by artist ii. 95 signed sets of prints of artist s 6 works iii. Medium: Printing method and paper iv. Print Size: 59.2 x 42cm v. Presented in a special House of Mandela collector s edition portfolio box vi. Authentification: Presented with a certificate of authenticity signed by Dr Makaziwe Mandela vii. Print Set Price (Unframed): R85 000 plus 15% Vat viii. Originals Price: POA ORDER/ENQUIRE TERMS All works are limited editions and therefore sold subject to availability Contact craig@themelrosegallery.com to express interest in acquiring a set Payment via credit card or EFT No works will be released until payment is received in full These prices exclude shipping and framing The Melrose Gallery has been appointed by The House of Mandela to assist with the marketing and sale of The Unity Series Only 95 sets of prints of each artist s works will be available worldwide. This offer is subject to availability. The gallery will attempt to confirm availability within 72 hours of receipt of your order.
SAM NHLENGETHWA (SA) BIOGRAPHY Born into a family of jazz lovers in 1955, Sam Nhlengethwa spent his early years in the township of Payneville, near Johannesburg, South Africa. Nhlengethwa studied at the Evangelical Lutheran Art and Craft Centre at Rorke s Drift, the only institution in South Africa at that time that provided black students with art training. Nhlengethwa s favourite subjects are jazz musicians and township scenes from the 50s and early 60s the honeyed time of Sophiatown and District Six before the bulldozers moved in. His work captures the fragile blossoming of a peace-loving black middle class, with the accompanying growth of self-confidence and self-respect. His paintings and collages utilize the technique of photomontage. Nhlengethwa also gained fame for his depiction of deep level miners, and for an artistic meditation on the death of political activist Steve Biko. He is very much a social person, and has maintained throughout his life contact with the developing artists that he met in his youth, and exhibits most of his work in group showings. MOTIVATION Struggle Ten years into our democracy, I see a new struggle one facing rural women and children. We achieved political freedom. The struggle is still on for economic freedom, especially in rural areas, where women and children are still victims of under-development and poverty, unable to fully enjoy the fruits of democracy. Imprisonment Imprisonment is represented by leaders of the liberation Struggle. Imprisonment of their great minds became the beginning of their physical confinement. It is the dynamism of these minds and unwavering determination that was able to break the prison walls at the dawn of democracy. Freedom Freedom from dompas! Dompas was one of the pillars of Apartheid. It became the single most powerful tool used to curtail the movements of Blacks in South Africa. If you carried one without the invaluable qualifying Section 10(1)(a) stamp, and were found illegally in an urban area, you would be imprisoned immediately irrespective of where you were born, raised or schooled. Unity South Africa is a country of diverse cultures. Sport has been a unifying factor to the point where national teams have been given pet names, embraced by all whether they be Bafana Bafana, Amabokkebokke or Amakrokokroko. Future The future is represented by children and the youth. Mothers and fathers of the Struggle laid the foundation of democracy, creating opportunities for growth and prosperity. The future lies in the hands of children born in this democratic and integrated society.
SAM NHLENGETHWA (SA) ARTWORK DETAILS i. 6 original artworks by artist ii. 95 signed sets of prints of artist s 6 works iii. Medium: Printing method and paper iv. Print Size: 59.2 x 42cm v. Presented in a special House of Mandela collector s edition portfolio box vi. Authentification: Presented with a certificate of authenticity signed by Dr Makaziwe Mandela vii. Print Set Price (Unframed): R85 000 plus 15% Vat viii. Originals Price: POA ORDER/ENQUIRE TERMS All works are limited editions and therefore sold subject to availability Contact craig@themelrosegallery.com to express interest in acquiring a set Payment via credit card or EFT No works will be released until payment is received in full These prices exclude shipping and framing The Melrose Gallery has been appointed by The House of Mandela to assist with the marketing and sale of The Unity Series Only 95 sets of prints of each artist s works will be available worldwide. This offer is subject to availability. The gallery will attempt to confirm availability within 72 hours of receipt of your order.
GEORGE VELAPHI MZIMBA (SA) BIOGRAPHY George Velaphi Mzimba was born in Dube Soweto, outside Johannesburg, South Africa, in September 1959. Art was not a priority in Apartheid black education. Mzimba was fortunate to receive extracurricular tuition in drawing and painting from Dan Rakgoathe at the Mofolo Art School in the mid-1970s. He later spent a year studying at the Johannesburg Art Foundation under the tutelage of the late Bill Ainslie. Mzimba reached maturity during the most severe period of Apartheid censorship and oppression, which makes the effervescent optimism of his work all the more remarkable. His paintings are full of colour, outsized people and objects, blending superb technique with a fresh, hopeful view of life. His favourite subject is the vibrancy of the ever-changing black townships in South Africa. Squashed cans and found objects, litter Mzimba s abstracted recollections of his childhood. Whether he is drawing people, pieces of fruit or other objects, Mzimba s images are compelling in their colour and detail. His people stare confidently out of the canvass, secure in their self-worth, their cultural affinity and their Africanness. His portraits have been compared with those of the American artist Chuck Close. Though I was born just a year before Apartheid was legally instituted, I have been lucky to witness the joys of seeing the new dispensation come to fruition. This project has given me the opportunity to add my own feelings to the work of an icon like Mandela. This is a special occasion for me to participate in this history-making event. My interpretation is of an outsider looking into a soul of an entrapped person with great hope for the future. My work has never had political connotations before. However, in this project I used my experiences of Apartheid when growing up in Soweto. I have always portrayed positivity to the chagrin of my colleagues and peers. The choice of colours is about hope for the future and embracing democracy that has been achieved by all South Africans. The intention is to harness the love and exuberance that Mandela has come to personify. I hope this effort is shared and enjoyed by all of us. He alternates the draining task of creating huge brooding and richly painted portraits of proud tribesman and women, with moments of impish playfulness juxtaposing collections of apparently unconnected found objects. But in his hands, they become a commentary on contemporary life. Mzimba s outsized fruits and faces, and his whimsical landscapes have instant, obvious appeal, and have been snapped up by private and corporate collectors around the world.
GEORGE VELAPHI MZIMBA (SA) ARTWORK DETAILS i. 6 original artworks by artist ii. 95 signed sets of prints of artist s 6 works iii. Medium: Printing method and paper iv. Print Size: 59.2 x 42cm v. Presented in a special House of Mandela collector s edition portfolio box vi. Authentification: Presented with a certificate of authenticity signed by Dr Makaziwe Mandela vii. Print Set Price (Unframed): R85 000 plus 15% Vat viii. Originals Price: POA ORDER/ENQUIRE TERMS All works are limited editions and therefore sold subject to availability Contact craig@themelrosegallery.com to express interest in acquiring a set Payment via credit card or EFT No works will be released until payment is received in full These prices exclude shipping and framing The Melrose Gallery has been appointed by The House of Mandela to assist with the marketing and sale of The Unity Series Only 95 sets of prints of each artist s works will be available worldwide. This offer is subject to availability. The gallery will attempt to confirm availability within 72 hours of receipt of your order.
VUSI KHUMALO (SA) BIOGRAPHY Vusi Khumalo was born in Balfour North, Gauteng in 1951. After some basic schooling, he proceeded to work in South Africa until 1986, when political pressure forced him and his family to leave. They lived in ANC camps in Zambia and Tanzania until their repatriation in 1992. During the time in exile, Khumalo completed his O-levels by correspondence through the University of London, and was trained in textile printing, art, and design, which he later taught. He completed a summer course in art at the Gerlesberg Art School, Sweden, in 1991. Once back in South Africa, Khumalo helped establish the Dakawa Art and Craft Community Centre in Grahamstown, named after the ANC camp in which he and other exiles had lived in Tanzania. Khumalo s work as a teacher there won him a year s scholarship to the Konstfack National Art College in Stockholm, where he gained a certificate in textile printing and art. Since 1996 Khumalo has been working as a full-time artist in the Eastern Cape, where he lives with his wife, Lokhuthula and their two children. MOTIVATION Working on the Mandela Unity Series was a big challenge, a joy and a great honour. I decided to keep my part of the collaboration as simple as possible, and to relate to the original drawings, enhance the meaning and add value to the work without taking anything away from its originality. I chose to add flash to the hands, to create a sense of three dimensional qualities volume, solidity and recession, thereby adding life. I chose to use charcoal sticks, oil pastels and chalk pastels blended on paper, using strong lines to maintain the link with the original drawings. Struggle The struggle was born out of poverty and the conditions in which the majority of the people lived, hence I used the image of informal settlement with the fist rising from the ground. Imprisonment Incarcerated for many years surrounded by sea, seeing Table Mountain only through jail bars. Freedom A journey from the island to the main land, from oppression to peace, love and prosperity and a better life for all. Unity The hands that fought the bitter struggle and hands that oppressed others should be used to forge unity and work towards the development and a better life for all people irrespective of colour, creed or gender. Future In most African culture Ukhamba (a calabash) is used to preserve or keep food or beverage for future usage. Motivation I reproduced and rearranged the hands that Madiba drew and used them as background to the writing.
VUSI KHUMALO (SA) ARTWORK DETAILS i. 6 original artworks by artist ii. 95 signed sets of prints of artist s 6 works iii. Medium: Printing method and paper iv. Print Size: 59.2 x 42cm v. Presented in a special House of Mandela collector s edition portfolio box vi. Authentification: Presented with a certificate of authenticity signed by Dr Makaziwe Mandela vii. Print Set Price (Unframed): R85 000 plus 15% Vat viii. Originals Price: POA ORDER/ENQUIRE TERMS All works are limited editions and therefore sold subject to availability Contact craig@themelrosegallery.com to express interest in acquiring a set Payment via credit card or EFT No works will be released until payment is received in full These prices exclude shipping and framing The Melrose Gallery has been appointed by The House of Mandela to assist with the marketing and sale of The Unity Series Only 95 sets of prints of each artist s works will be available worldwide. This offer is subject to availability. The gallery will attempt to confirm availability within 72 hours of receipt of your order.
LENE PIENAAR (SA) BIOGRAPHY Lené A. Pienaar s first passion is to discover the depth and length and breadth of an infinite, limitless God. Her love for Him is at the center of her being and is the reason she paints. To her art is a vehicle to express the inexpressible and search the unsearchable. What appealed to her in the legacy of Nelson Mandela is how his message was carved out of his very person, his choices and his life. He was tested by fire. His were not mere words, but the persuasive power of a living example. That is why his message echoes beyond the grave. The first time one of these new pieces was featured on the cover of JOY! Magazine, the publication reached record breaking sales which they attributed to the effect of the cover art. Solo exhibitions have also evidenced the Lord s presence evoking deep emotions in viewers in many ways. Because of Him, hers are not ordinary works of art. This intangible, inexplicable quality to them is her greatest treasure. The approval of her God is worth more than all the money or accolades the world can offer it is priceless. What a rare thing to find these pieces in a collaborative work with a legend likes of Nelson Mandela. Lené lives in search of authenticity in her experience and purity in her intent. She believes that anything less would render her art empty. Because of this, her path has been unusual: She began her career in 2000 after receiving a BA(FA) InformationDesign from the University of Pretoria. Her ascent into the art world was rapid. Her first gallery piece sold within two days. Only five years later she had art works in her choice of major galleries across South Africa, had her first Solo exhibition, was features in various publications, radio and television interviews, a CD cover, had participated in international collaborative exhibitions and was establishing a name. Just as her career took-off, God intervened. He asked if she would sacrifice it all, offer it as an act of worship to Him. The implications were withdrawing from all the galleries and activities she had been a part of, giving up her income, her name and her ambitions. It was a test of the authenticity of her faith and no small challenge. She did answer that call. The Lord, in return, promised to infuse her pieces with something of His supernatural power. It has transformed them. They now have their own voice. Her works have become more than pigment on canvas - they are living, they ask questions, they draw answers.
LENE PIENAAR (SA) ARTWORK DETAILS i. 6 original artworks by artist ii. 95 signed sets of prints of artist s 6 works iii. Medium: Printing method and paper iv. Print Size: 59.2 x 42cm v. Presented in a special House of Mandela collector s edition portfolio box vi. Authentification: Presented with a certificate of authenticity signed by Dr Makaziwe Mandela vii. Print Set Price (Unframed): R85 000 plus 15% Vat viii. Originals Price: POA ORDER/ENQUIRE TERMS All works are limited editions and therefore sold subject to availability Contact craig@themelrosegallery.com to express interest in acquiring a set Payment via credit card or EFT No works will be released until payment is received in full These prices exclude shipping and framing The Melrose Gallery has been appointed by The House of Mandela to assist with the marketing and sale of The Unity Series Only 95 sets of prints of each artist s works will be available worldwide. This offer is subject to availability. The gallery will attempt to confirm availability within 72 hours of receipt of your order.
CHARLIE MACKESY (UK) BIOGRAPHY Charlie Mackesy shares GK Chesterton s view that: At the back of our brains is a blaze of astonishment at our own existence. The object of the artistic and spiritual life is to dig for this sunrise of wonder. Born in 1962, Mackesy grew up in the English countryside in Northumberland. He received no formal art training, and when he attended university, Mackesy started drawing cartoons and advertisements for local newspapers and magazines, producing cartoons for publications like The Spectator magazine, and drawings which were used for album covers. He also illustrated several books, including poetry anthologies, for Oxford University Press. His first art exhibition took place in a pub in 1984. I ve since been lucky or blessed enough to work with galleries in Edinburgh, New York and London and am continuing to do so, says Mackesy. In fact, the artist s work has been exhibited in some of the world s most prestigious galleries. His work has found its way into the private collections of Whoopie Goldberg, Richard Curtis, M. Night Shayalaman, Sting, Harry Enfield, and the Oppenheimer family. During the course of his career to date, Mackesy s work has encompassed many different themes. It seems in retrospect I find an issue which I work through such as the Prodigal Son and Daughter, which can take two or three years to complete making drawings, paintings and bronze sculptures of the subject until somehow it s over and I can move on, he says. Other clearly identifiable themes running through his work are: redemption, angels, and musicians especially those involved in the jazz scene. Mackesy has a particular fascination with the black American jazz and blues culture of New Orleans and New York. Interspersed between all of these are random studies of life, including Mackesy s friends, favourite cafes, and other subjects which have no specific thematic intentions. It is characteristic of Mackesy s work that even the strictly themed pieces are never publicly analyzed or explained by the artist. I am cautious to explain what I think the work is saying for fear of taking away from you something you have seen and I have not, says Mackesy. Extensive travel has led to the artist getting involved in artistic projects all over the world some publicly commissioned, and others, more personal explorations. Whilst in Hong Kong, Mackesy worked with ex-triad gang members to produce a mural in a Christian drug rehab house. In South Africa he lived and painted in Cape Town and on farms around Paarl. The artist also worked and painted on tea and coffee plantations in Zimbabwe. Interest in drawing portraits of Botswana s Bushmen led to Mackesy spending a period living in a Bushman village, and he also spent some time writing and drawing with one of South Africa s many gospel bands. It has been very hard to add anything to these powerful symbols Nelson Mandela has drawn. Where possible, I have tried to make tender drawings. I think I ve just wanted to underscore the emotion that is already there and it s a privilege to share the same paper.
CHARLIE MACKESY (UK) ARTWORK DETAILS i. 6 original artworks by artist ii. 95 signed sets of prints of artist s 6 works iii. Medium: Printing method and paper iv. Print Size: 59.2 x 42cm v. Presented in a special House of Mandela collector s edition portfolio box vi. Authentification: Presented with a certificate of authenticity signed by Dr Makaziwe Mandela vii. Print Set Price (Unframed): R85 000 plus 15% Vat viii. Originals Price: POA ORDER/ENQUIRE TERMS All works are limited editions and therefore sold subject to availability Contact craig@themelrosegallery.com to express interest in acquiring a set Payment via credit card or EFT No works will be released until payment is received in full These prices exclude shipping and framing The Melrose Gallery has been appointed by The House of Mandela to assist with the marketing and sale of The Unity Series Only 95 sets of prints of each artist s works will be available worldwide. This offer is subject to availability. The gallery will attempt to confirm availability within 72 hours of receipt of your order.
ANTHONY WAKABA MUTHEKI (KY SA) BIOGRAPHY Anthony Mutheki was born on the 8th of October, 1973 in Nakura, Kenya. During his childhood, Mutheki travelled extensively with his family, living in the United States, France, Dubai and fifteen different African countries. During these travels, Mutheki developed a love of art, entranced by its ability to capture all the different kinds of people, cultural influences and landscapes to which he was being exposed. In fact, the young artist today attributes much of his talent to the wealth of knowledge he accumulated during these years. He finally arrived in South Africa in 1996, where he had a rough start living in a shelter in Johannesburg, surviving from the sale of empty Coke bottles. Mutheki values this experience, however, as an opportunity he might not otherwise have had to gain insight into poverty and the harsher side of life. Despite this hardship, he fell in love with the country and its people, and on a personal level, met and married a local woman, with whom he has a young daughter. The family lives on the North Coast of KwaZulu- Natal, from where Mutheki now works full time as an artist. His strong technical skills have made him a sought after teacher, and he continues to teach other artists in between creating his own works. As subjects, Mutheki chooses to paint modern contemporary African studies, landscapes, nudes, and overwhelmingly powerful portraits of African people. Apart from sell-out exhibitions in New York and Philadelphia, Mutheki has participated in many other local and international exhibitions. To name just a few the New York Art Expo, International Philadelphia Black Arts Festival, World Summit Johannesburg and the Antiquarius Gallery Soho New York. The artist has quickly developed a large extremely loyal following, with collectors including Liberty Life, ABSA Bank, Africa Bank, Chris Tucker, Vice President of JP Morgan, and Minister S bu Ndebele, the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal. Despite having received no formal training at all, Mutheki creates works which are valued for their power and striking individuality. Some believe that it may be his lack of formal training that, in fact, lends his works their attractive roughness and integrity. His ability to capture his subjects, their traditions, their moods and emotions with such honesty on canvas stops viewers in their tracks. Mutheki s preferred media are oil and acrylics on canvas however, clients and fellow artists alike are astonished by the multitude of effects Mutheki manages to achieve within this particular genre. He paints in two distinct styles one contemporary, and the other extremely realistic.
ANTHONY WAKABA MUTHEKI (KY SA) ARTWORK DETAILS i. 6 original artworks by artist ii. 95 signed sets of prints of artist s 6 works iii. Medium: Printing method and paper iv. Print Size: 59.2 x 42cm v. Presented in a special House of Mandela collector s edition portfolio box vi. Authentification: Presented with a certificate of authenticity signed by Dr Makaziwe Mandela vii. Print Set Price (Unframed): R85 000 plus 15% Vat viii. Originals Price: POA ORDER/ENQUIRE TERMS All works are limited editions and therefore sold subject to availability Contact craig@themelrosegallery.com to express interest in acquiring a set Payment via credit card or EFT No works will be released until payment is received in full These prices exclude shipping and framing The Melrose Gallery has been appointed by The House of Mandela to assist with the marketing and sale of The Unity Series Only 95 sets of prints of each artist s works will be available worldwide. This offer is subject to availability. The gallery will attempt to confirm availability within 72 hours of receipt of your order.
DAVID BUCKLOW (SA) BIOGRAPHY David Bucklow was born on February 22nd, 1969 in Gauteng, South Africa. This entirely self-taught artist grew up on a farm, where he quickly developed an appreciation for nature. After school he completed his compulsory National Service, training as a dog handler in Mpumalanga. Assigned to an area which included the Kruger National Park, Bucklow spent his spare time sketching the local wildlife. He moved to Cape Town with his family in 1988, and embarked on a highly successful seven-year stint as a leather accessory designer. Working with exotic pelts like ostrich, he created handbags and other goods for the foreign market. But his desire to paint could not be quelled, and he completed two wildlife paintings, which were enthusiastically received. Since 1999 Bucklow has been working as a fulltime artist, painting a range of subjects from portraits of indigenous South Africans, to landscapes, seascapes and wildlife. He has completed many private commissions, particularly for game farms where he has become involved in a number of conservation projects including ones for African wild dogs, cheetahs and white lions. MOTIVATION Struggle As a male lion matures, the urge to take over a pride is powerful and he must fight for the right. Once he is victor he will have to protect his pride and offspring with his life. The yellow ochre background represents sun baked sand from the heat of the day. This drives the lion to the shade. Imprisonment African elephants, although allowed to roam free in large game parks, are culled because of destruction caused by their increasing numbers in a restricted area. The purple colour represents a moody atmosphere that is almost brewing for a thunderstorm. Freedom The wild dog has been bred in captivity and brought back from near extinction. Many have been successfully released into the wild and once again the African wild dog can roam free. Blue represents the vastness of the cloudless African sky. Unity Two brothers form a coalition and are almost invincible against foes wishing to take over their domain and pride. By sharing the spoils they have formed a powerful bond. The red oxide represents this blood brotherhood. Future As with all species, the future lies in the youth. Green speaks of new life it is the colour of spring and fresh leaves. Motivation Once you have looked into a lion s eyes you will always be in awe of its greatness. Nelson Mandela the Lion of Africa.
DAVID BUCKLOW (SA) ARTWORK DETAILS i. 6 original artworks by artist ii. 95 signed sets of prints of artist s 6 works iii. Medium: Printing method and paper iv. Print Size: 59.2 x 42cm v. Presented in a special House of Mandela collector s edition portfolio box vi. Authentification: Presented with a certificate of authenticity signed by Dr Makaziwe Mandela vii. Print Set Price (Unframed): R85 000 plus 15% Vat viii. Originals Price: POA ORDER/ENQUIRE TERMS All works are limited editions and therefore sold subject to availability Contact craig@themelrosegallery.com to express interest in acquiring a set Payment via credit card or EFT No works will be released until payment is received in full These prices exclude shipping and framing The Melrose Gallery has been appointed by The House of Mandela to assist with the marketing and sale of The Unity Series Only 95 sets of prints of each artist s works will be available worldwide. This offer is subject to availability. The gallery will attempt to confirm availability within 72 hours of receipt of your order.
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