Ukhona Mthethwa is a visual artist from Dannhauser, Kwa-Zulu Natal. In 2023 he completed a Diploma in Fine and Applied Arts from Tshwane University of Technology, majoring in painting.
Please take us back to when your interest in art began and what inspired you to pursue a career as an artist?
My interest in art started from a very young age, as a kid, I loved drawing characters from Dragon Ball Z, the popular Japanese television series produced by Toei Animation. Since then, I realised that I can draw and I developed a strong connection to art. My inspiration to create art comes from curiosity. I also tend to get sick when I’m not creating anything so I was left with no choice but to pursue art as a career.
Your recent body of work, Ngizovuka ngendonsa kusa is an incredible body of work with very powerful symbolism. How did you develop the ideas behind this body of work?
When I started creating in conceptual root, I wanted to talk about my mother who is a waste picker, so in this body of work Ngizovuka ngendonsa kusa I wanted to talk about me and the people around me, that's how I ended up developing this body of work.
What skills did you have to develop or information did you have to learn to create this body of work?
To create this body of work I had to combine my creative skills with research. I went back to where my parents were born to complete my research and I also visited a lot of museums.
What is your aesthetic and how have your life experiences influenced your artistic style?
My aesthetic is rooted in the exploration of the Black identity, spirituality and migration through symbolism and metaphor. My life experiences have a profound influence on my artistic style, especially having grown up in Dannhauser. Witnessing the complexities of the Black identity has inspired me to reimagine the perspectives which represent Blackness as both royal and beautiful while connecting past struggles to a vision for the future.
Keep up to date with Mthethwa’s artistic journey on Instagram @ukhona_mthethwa
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