Another First for Prince Albert Gallery

- Linda Jaquet -

For the first time ever three Zulu artists exhibited at the Prince Albert Gallery during July and did so with aplomb and warm Zulu charm. On opening night guests were invited to come along, sip some umqombothi [Zulu beer] and chat to artists, Welcome Danca, Bheki Khambule and Lalelani Mbhele at a joint exhibition of their work. Their company, Vulindlela Art and Design is the first fully-fledged BEE art and design initiative in South Africa.

Both Danca and Khambule are recipients of the START: Nivea Art Award which funds and mentors young, emerging artists. The award is restricted to KwaZulu-Natal.

Much of the art on show was done during their stay in Prince Albert and depicted their interpretation of familiar local scenes and favourite Karoo icons in oils, watercolours and acrylics. A slideshow gave guests an idea of the extraordinary body of work produced by Vulindlela Art and Design and the artists each gave a short talk on what motivates and inspires them.

Danca, Khambule and Mbhele had been in Prince Albert for some weeks working on a mural at Villa Kruger, the home of international art consultant Hennie Boshoff. The mural -- Ezulwini Nasesihogweni [Heaven and Hell] -- covers the entire western façade of the house. Seeming to burst from the arid khaki veld it shines out from amongst aloes, cacti and Karoo fynbos taking on a surreal hue.

Boshoff is also the curator of the Azazel Institute, a non-profit arts foundation sponsoring, developing and showcasing exceptional creativity. In July he hosted his first Full Moon Art Tour of Villa Kruger. Prince Albert resident, Barbara Castle-Farmer, who joined the Tour, told the Friend: “Anyone with a zest for life, a love of nature and an enjoyment of the extraordinary will love the Tour, which Hennie is going to conduct every month.” She went on to say that Boshoff’s Villa Kruger rivalled that of Helen Martins’ Owl House in Graaff Reinet and that Prince Alberters could be proud to be part of this new Karoo icon.

Readers can learn more about Vulindlela Art and Design on ww.vulakznarts.co.za while information on Hennie Boshoff’s Full Moon Art tours is available on www.azazel.com