Collection: Mpho Ya Badimo - Sesing Frank Nthunya-Morai

Mpho Ya Badimo

Solo Exhibition

23.11.24 - 04.01.25

Sesing Frank Nthunya-Morai’s debut solo exhibition, Mpho Ya Badimo – Sotho for ‘a gift from our ancestors’, explores a deeply spiritual connection with the natural world and ancestral realms. Through his artworks, Nthunya-Morai channels the sacred traditions of African spirituality, presenting his creative journey as a manifestation of ancestral gifts. For the artist, these vessels—shaped by the oceans and delivered through his dreams—are not simply works of art; they are spiritual offerings, a direct communication with the past, rooted in the belief that our talents are inherited from those who came before us.  

Nthunya-Morai’s artistic path was nurtured by his father, a fellow artist, who encouraged him to draw from a young age. Driven by a profound sense of purpose guided by the wisdom of his ancestors, Sesing is the first creative in his family to pursue art full-time. His works embody a deep respect for African cultural practices and the teachings of his forebears, while simultaneously exploring contemporary forms of expression and mark-making.

The artist draws on a rich array of influences including African traditional pottery and ancient artefacts that relate to his cultural heritage. Nthunya-Morai’s fascination with the highly decorative and symbolic nature of traditional African craft is evident in the intricate patterns and textures that define his pieces. One such influence is Litema, a Basotho tradition practised by women in Southern Africa to decorate homes after their construction. These flowing patterns, created with fingers, sticks, and other tools, evoke the organic beauty of the natural world—ploughed fields, plant life, and even animals that symbolise clan totems. The restrained use of colour, often limited to two shades, reflects the simplicity and harmony of the African landscape. These influences inform the artist’s use of form, texture, and colour, bringing to life ancestral narratives through abstract visual languages.

In Mpho Ya Badimo, Nthunya-Morai offers a powerful, meditative space where the viewer can witness a spiritual dialogue between the artist’s inner world and the broader forces of nature and history. The vessels, born of dreamscapes and guided by ancestral voices, invite us to reflect on our connections to the past and the divine purposes embedded within our talents.

This exhibition is an invitation to engage with the spiritual, cultural, and ancestral forces that continue to shape our identities, urging us to honour our gifts and their potential for transformative impact.