ABOUT XHANTI ZWELENDABA

Xhanti Zwelendaba is a multi-disciplinary artist working in a diverse range of mediums

such as sculpting, print-making, installation, performance art and video art. Zwelendaba’s work deals primarily with the complexities and tensions surrounding Xhosa culture and the modern day culture of contemporary capitalism and nationalism – and embedded within these is the legacy of colonialism and apartheid. This pursuance is largely spurred on by having to balance in-between these cultural paradigms, often simultaneously.

Each of his works stand as a testimony for interrogating his identity and the collective identities of Black people living in South Africa. Through collaboration and usage of diverse materials, each idea is given the opportunity to present its nuances in a unique manner. By regularly contributing and participating in the development, processes and practices of his curiosities, Zwelendaba has overtly committed to pursuing an art practice within a decolonial paradigm, which is constantly pushing the boundaries and limits of art making from the African continent within the contemporary art sphere, which is still a largely western European dominated industry.

Group Exhibitions

2022   ‘A Point of Departure’, Curated by Christina Fortune, EBONY/CURATED, Cape Town, South Africa

2021   ‘Autumn Salon’, Gallery Fanon, Johannesburg, South Africa

‘Space and Place’, Galarie Eigen, Berlin, Germany

‘Tongues’, The Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa

‘Turbine Art Fair Featured Artist’, Turbine Art Fair, Johannesburg, South Africa

2020   ‘Everard Read Franschhoek Gallery Opening’, Everard Read, Cape Town,

South Africa

2019  ‘Familial Threads’, Museum of African Design, Johannesburg, South Africa

2018  ‘Investec Cape Town Art Fair’, Cape Town, South Africa

‘Amaqaba vol. 1’ (in collaboration with Inga Somdyala), Eclectica Contemporary,

Cape Town, South Africa

2017  ‘Everyday Anomaly’, WHATIFTHEWORLD GALLERY, Cape Town, South Africa

2016  ‘Chamber of Mines’, (in collaboration with Rowan Smith), WHATIFTHEWORLD GALLERY, Cape Town, South Africa

Projects

2022  Residency at Leipzig International Art Programme, Germany

PCSA: The Surreal Landscape, David Krut Projects, Johannesburg, South Africa

2017   Open Laboratory, Nirox Sculpture Park, Krugersdorp, South Africa

2016   Sasol New Signatures, Pretoria Arts Association