Biography
Nwabisa Ntlokowana
Born 1988 in Durban, KZN. Nwabisa Ntlokwana is a Johannesburg based visual artist, constructing pieces that focus on themes around environmental sustainability and her interpretation of modern motherhood. Drawing inspiration from the vibrant energy of Africa and its cultures nuances, her work is firmly rooted in contemporary aesthetics that come alive through her captivating wall sculptures. Utilising up-cycled materials, Nwabisa creates works that not only act as established statements, but as creative responses to the notion of transformation and motherhood. She imbues her artworks with a powerful and necessary energy of renewal and regeneration, making them stand out for both their meaning and beauty.
My work involves creating conceptually based objects from discarded materials through a modelling technique. I am particularly interested in capturing, interpreting, and representing the beauty and traumas of motherhood, drawing from my own life experiences, the stories of other mothers, cultural traditions, African practices, and memories of my late mother. Through my sculptures, I hopes to encapsulate the multifaceted experiences of motherhood.
The three prominent elements in my works are shapes, texture, and colour. I love to leave the top layers of the papier-mâché bare to achieve a rich texture. By working with papier-mâché I find a profound similarity between mothers and the papier-mâché, a medium that appears fragile yet possesses great strength. This mirrors how mothers are both soft and resilient, capable of building and sustaining homes.
Through my art, I aim to evoke a deep appreciation for the strength, resilience, and nurturing spirit of mothers, inviting viewers to reflect on the intricate journey of motherhood.
This latest body of work is a continuation on the motherhood theme which looks deeper into the maternal identity. Using the leather offcuts, strategically arranged to evoke pixelated images. This technique metaphorically reflects the blurred boundaries inherent in the experience of motherhood mirroring the nuanced emotions and roles that define this journey.
This artistic approach also holds a personal resonance, echoing the initial introduction to art through my mother, a photographer. Her influence instilled in me a deep appreciation for visual storytelling and a keen sensitivity to capturing moments of vulnerability and strength. By incorporating these leather offcuts, I am not only paying homage to my artistic roots but also seek to reinterpret and expand upon traditional representations of motherhood and self discovery.
The human mind is a noisy place. This collection offers an oasis of tranquility amidst the chaos. Crafted from up-cycled materials and hessian fabric, each sculpture stands as a testament to the unexpected allure found in repurposed elements. These three- dimensional piece captivate viewers to pause, contemplate, and embrace life’s disorder while also evoking a journey toward inner reflection and self-discovery. Ultimately, Nwabisa’s hope is that these sculptures enable individuals to unearth a profound understanding of their inner self.
