ABOUT SIBUSISO DUMA

Sibusiso Duma was born in Mbumbulu, Durban, KwaZulu Natal where he currently still works and resides. He started drawing with crayons and colour pencils from an early age.

His talent was noticed and nourished by the late Trevor Makhoba (1956 – 2003) through his Philange Art Project based in Umlazi, a township south of Durban where Makhoba had built a studio space behind his house. From 1994 – 2003 Duma was under Makhoba’s tutelage, and has subsequently shared a stage with Makhoba and another former student, Welcome Danca. Together they held a number of exhibitions at the African Art Centre in Durban.

Duma has built on his own style and visual language, but the influence of Makhoba is noticeable. This does more credit than harm, and his work is able to stand on its own as work with an original eye. Duma uses familiar iconography such as the human figure and rural landscape in his narratives, serving as his analysis of the rural environment through the use of humour and satire; helping in the understanding of present social conditions. The use of these personal iconography and metaphors harvested from everyday life manifests a fine balance between fantasy and reality. His work is typified by his treatment of the surface, subject matter, composition and the use of space and colour, which collectively create touches of mystery and inrigue.

“His treatment of surface, subject, space and colour is unique in that other issues are not stated directly but are alluded to, thus creating an element of intrigue and wonder” – Gabi Ngcobo, ‘Revisions’ 2006

Solo Exhibitions

2019    ‘Izixazululo (Solutions)’, EBONY/CURATED, Bordeaux House, Franschhoek, South Africa

2018    Phansi Goes Phezulu Gallery, Durban, South Africa

2012    ABSA Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa

2010    Artspace, Durban, South Africa

2009    ‘Project 004’ Stevenson, Johannesburg

2008    Association of Visual Arts (AVA), Cape Town, South Africa

2002    African Art Centre, Durban, South Africa

Group Exhibitions

2020    African Galleries Now Online Exhibition, EBONY/CURATED, Cape Town, South Africa

2018    ‘Vivid Lurid’, Kwazulu Natal Society of Arts, Mezzanine Gallery, Durban, South Africa

2010    ‘Living in KZN’, artSPACE Berlin, Berlin, Germany

2008    ‘Sobathathu’, Joint with Welcome Danca and Bheki Khambule, African Art Centre, Durban, South Africa

2007    ‘BAD: Best of African Design – 100% Zulu’, London, UK

2007    ‘Revisions’, The African Art Centre, Durban, South Africa

2004    Joint exhibition with Welcome Danca , African Art Centre, Durban, South Africa

2000    ‘Makabongwe Ophezulu – Thank God for Creativity’, African Art Centre, Durban, South  Africa

2000    ‘Sezenjani Ngengculazi –What are we going to do about Aids?’, African Art Centre, South Africa

1999    ‘Izwe Lethu – Our land’, African Art Centre, Durban, South Africa

1997    Group exhibition with Welcome Danca and Trevor Makhoba, African Art Centre, South Africa

Collections 

The Campbell Collections, Durban

Museum Services, Pietermaritzburg

Durban Art Gallery

Bruce Campbell-Smith Collection, Cape Town

Art Bank of South Africa

ABSA Bank

Tathan Art Gallery

Killie Campbell Collection

Publications

“Revisions” The Campbell Smith Collection, Unisa, 2006
SMAC Gallery publication for the Johannesburg Art Fair, 2008