Esther Mahlangu: Ex Africa Semper Aliquid Novi :

The Kyo Noir Studio continues with the series of exhibitions entitled "Ex Africa semper aliquid novi" the quote by Pliny the Elder, which translated from Latin means "from Africa always something new," will be the incipit for the general public to learn more about contemporary African art and artists, who have already been protagonists of the international art scene in recent years. The second Focus on is on Esther Mahlangu internationally known painter, she has participated in the most important exhibitions from Magiciens de la Terre to Africa Remix and is present in the most important institutions, museums and private collections in the world. Her works are also appreciated in her home country South Africa, where she is very famous. Starting from Mabhoko, the village where she lives, she has traveled the world to make the Ndebele painting tradition known. As per local practice Esther began to paint at a very young age under the guidance of her grandmother and mother, such paintings decorated the houses of homes and were renewed on the occasion of the men's rite of passage to adulthood and in fact the painting tradition was entrusted exclusively to women.

 

Today Esther Mahlangu as she said during the interview with Antonella Pisilli, has transferred all her knowledge to both the girls and boys of her tribe to form a small army of people capable of decorating in the Ndebele style every place around the planet, this will allow her art and culture to spread over time. The classic Ndebele painting, results from the combination of formal geometric modules, the triangular shape is repeated with some regularity, the figures made through a sharp black stroke on a white background, the interior colors are flat and very vibrant with a very definite alternation and symmetry. From an ancient African culture we come to a phenomenology of form where the spontaneous element drags with it a series of valences, where the abstraction of reality induces us to a symbolic process representative of a culture. The signifier that is, the abstract element takes over from the figurative element that is, the signified. The abstract geometric art of the Ndebele tribe seems very close to the pure concepts of abstraction so dear to the Suprematists, the pure sensibility of forms becomes the true essence and universality of art. Ester Mahlangu has transferred these geometries to various media from canvas, automobiles, airplanes to design, the aesthetic experience, which the process of contamination produces and refers back to the Ndebele tradition, having contaminated the world and having transferred her cultural tradition to it is the true artistic process accomplished by the painter. Mahlangu made the first "African Art Car" in 1991, decorating a BMW 525i with the typical motifs of the Ndebele tribe.

 

Such drawings were also featured on the tails of British Airways planes in 1997, and in 2007 the same particular painting technique was also reproduced by the artist on the new Fiat 500 for the "Why Africa?" exhibition (2007, Turin). In the past year she collaborated with a Swedish brand to design in a limited edition of sneakers called Eytys. In August this year she took part in a campaign promoted by singer John Legend, recreating in classic Ndebele designs the design of a special edition bottle of Belvedere Vodka, and profits from the sale will be donated to the Global Fund to fight HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. After 25 years, she has worked with BMW again and created the interior of the BMW 7 Series, which will be exhibited Oct. 5-9 at the Frieze Art Fair, to be held at London's Regent Park, with proceeds from the sale going to the charity.