May 15, 2014 - June 15, 2014
Nex Dor resturant, Vilakazi str, Orlando west
Samson Mnisi also whose late name translates to “Rainmaker”. Born in 1971 in Lesotho, Samson is a Soweto Based Artists, who studied Fine Art and photography at FUBA Academy. He has had numerous groups and solo exhibitions, locally and internationally.
He has also collaborated with many artists around the world across various disciplines of Art, and his works are in local and international collections. Lives and works in Johannesburg, South Africa (SA) and Brooklyn, The United States of America (USA).
Samson Sowetan based artist who has a studio at the heart of White City. It's not common that you find artist that turn their homes into artist studio. As soon as you enter Samson studio, you are injected with excitement and inspiration at the same time. This artist who has exhibited aboard has will be hosting his 2nd solo exhibition in Soweto and we are honoured to host him for our May exhibition.
His art is a symbolic language of abstract thought. He uses patterns, lines, symbols and colour to find a contemporary South African expression. He sees himself as part of the timeless tradition of celebrating the human godliness from the first rock painting to the present time and beyond. He's interested in using art as another element of alchemy. Where through it you can evoke and even heal certain emotions.
“In my work, I am finding a new interpretation for an old language.
Because of our colonial history, we have struggled to interpret ourselves even in post-colonial times. Can the mind be decolonised? It is in pre-colonial times that we can really find the true reflection of ourselves. But those moments are far gone, and in most cases look like mambo jumbo because of the nature of the colonial education. The purpose of art-making in that historical context reflected the religion, culture and philosophy of that time. I, therefore, believe that by honestly looking at our history in totality pre-colonial, colonial and post-colonial times, we can truly understand where we are, and how we should relate to the world and the future.” – Samson Mnisi
