As children Majolandile Dyalvane and his friends often created clay miniatures for fun, but he never imagined that a hobby would become his life and career.
The Keiskammahoek-born visual artist will be sharing his skill with the rest of the world when he exhibits his creations at the Friedman Benda Gallery in New York.
Speaking to the Saturday Dispatch, Dyalvane described the exhibit as a “really big deal”.
“I have exhibited in many countries, and in the US and in the UK over the past few years, but this time is special because this will be my first solo exhibition and this opportunity for me means that I have finally arrived where I am meant to be,” Dyalvane said.
The ceramist, who holds a diploma from Port Elizabeth Technikon (now Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University), is the most recent winner of South Africa’s Southern Guild Design Foundation Icon Award.
He was first introduced to the renowned US design gallery in 2014, through Trevyn and Julian McGowan of Southern Guild, the collectable design gallery that has represented him since it was founded in 2008.
Titled Camagu, his exhibition is set to open on June 23 and runs until August 19. He said he would be presenting more than 23 pieces of his craft to the American audience.
Dyalvane, who is one of the founders of Imiso Ceramics, said: “Camagu in Xhosa refers to gratitude. My talent is a gift. It’s my calling. I’ve always wanted to do a solo show, creating works I’d only ever dreamed of producing, and now that it is happening I feel I have to give thanks.
“But I am giving thanks not only to my ancestors but to all the people and entities that contributed to my success.”
He said he was already working on new pieces for the show, which include ceramic screens, lighting, shelving and overscaled vessels, with surface designs that continue to reference the African scarification with which his work has become synonymous.
Dyalvane said he hoped his exhibition would inspire and educate people about developing a career in ceramics.
“I am excited to be able to put my village, province, country and continent on the map, but mostly I want people, especially from black communities, to realise that talent can put food on the table.”
l Follow #camagu to see Dyalvane’s progress with the show. — ziphon@dispatch.co.za
EC visual artist gets solo exhibition in US
The Keiskammahoek-born visual artist will be sharing his skill with the rest of the world when he exhibits his creations at the Friedman Benda Gallery in New York.
Speaking to the Saturday Dispatch, Dyalvane described the exhibit as a “really big deal”.
“I have exhibited in many countries, and in the US and in the UK over the past few years, but this time is special because this will be my first solo exhibition and this opportunity for me means that I have finally arrived where I am meant to be,” Dyalvane said.
The ceramist, who holds a diploma from Port Elizabeth Technikon (now Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University), is the most recent winner of South Africa’s Southern Guild Design Foundation Icon Award.
He was first introduced to the renowned US design gallery in 2014, through Trevyn and Julian McGowan of Southern Guild, the collectable design gallery that has represented him since it was founded in 2008.
Titled Camagu, his exhibition is set to open on June 23 and runs until August 19. He said he would be presenting more than 23 pieces of his craft to the American audience.
Dyalvane, who is one of the founders of Imiso Ceramics, said: “Camagu in Xhosa refers to gratitude. My talent is a gift. It’s my calling. I’ve always wanted to do a solo show, creating works I’d only ever dreamed of producing, and now that it is happening I feel I have to give thanks.
“But I am giving thanks not only to my ancestors but to all the people and entities that contributed to my success.”
He said he was already working on new pieces for the show, which include ceramic screens, lighting, shelving and overscaled vessels, with surface designs that continue to reference the African scarification with which his work has become synonymous.
Dyalvane said he hoped his exhibition would inspire and educate people about developing a career in ceramics.
“I am excited to be able to put my village, province, country and continent on the map, but mostly I want people, especially from black communities, to realise that talent can put food on the table.”
l Follow #camagu to see Dyalvane’s progress with the show. — ziphon@dispatch.co.za
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