German Mahlase says he was born to be an artist but only decided to be a potter much later. It became clear, however, from the moment he showed me his home on Boxing Day, that his life, like his home, revolved around pottery. In the middle of his kitchen, infused with the delicious smell of the frying chicken his partner Phindi was busy making, was also his kiln.

‘United Colours of AmaNdebele’ is Mahlase’s second exhibition at the Cape Gallery. Mahlase says the intention of this exhibition is not only to accommodate different colours in his pots but to unite the colours. The recent use of colour contrasts with his previous work where he left the natural colour of the clay exposed. The starting point for this body of works was a dream. “I dreamed of my grandmother and there were buckets and pots filled with colour and she pointed at them. The following day when I switched the TV on, there was a programme on Ndebele and then I knew I must do some research about the Ndebele".

Mahlase’s home language is Northern Sotho; his father Sepedi and his mother Ndebele. He admits that "in terms of art, maybe inspiration is coming from my mother's side". Mahlase is a bit concerned what the women will say about him painting in this style as it is the Ndebele tradition for only the women to paint. He laughs “I don't know if they are going to sue me, maybe they'll tie me up.”

Born in 1974 in what is now called Mokopane, and was then known as Potgietersrus, Mahlase was introduced to Black Consciousness by a friend while still at school. Expelled for political activism in 1988, and in 1990 he went underground “to liberate the country, if necessary by means of force. I was prepared for that”. He went for training in Swaziland and then on to Lusaka, the then ANC headquarters in exile. He returned to SA in 1994 and then, with the support of his family, finished his Matric and started his studies in Ceramic Design Technology at Wits Technikon.

Mahlase reached a turning point in his life in 1996 when he started studying at Wits Technikon. Mahlase was also taught by Eugene Hön, the head of the department at Wits Technikon. "Mr. Hön liked me very much and I worked hard and forgot about politics. Still, I wanted to be a cop while I was at school but Hön told me not to drop out, to rather finish and go." Mahlase stayed and completed his course in 1998.

"I started my own process of reconciliation. I had to realise that I, as a black person, was accepted. I started to create a bridge. A firm bridge. And I started to see a brighter side of South Africa. Now I see it is beautiful."

Mahlase’s face lights up when he talks about beauty and how he creates it through his pots. He takes great care to create regular, symmetrically curved forms as well as lightness in his pots. His vessels are made by hand rather then on a wheel. He credits Gail Dörje for having encouraged him to lighten his pots. "My first pots were" - at which point he used his fingers to stress what he talks about - "that thick! At least 3cm!, I want my pots to be as thin as a feather. The queen of lightweight for me is Rebecca Tetley. “. Mahlase has a keen desire to refine his method to attain something even more perfect and beautiful.

In keeping with the Ndebele traditions, Mahlase paints acrylic on his pots. A design takes him about a week to complete because he paints several layers of colour. Mahlase also specifically allowed the texture of the brush marks to remain, adding to the handmade quality of the pots. While some designs are based directly on the Ndebele originals, others are are influenced by Aztec and Ghanaian art.

"Most of my art is talking about kings and queens. Not kings and queens who achieved through ruthlessness like Shaka but rather people like Mojaji and Seretse Khama. I go and do research….. I won't just do a king of my head, I will check when he was born, when he died. Was he a good king? I check what people can learn from him, I go to the internet, to the library. When I portray, I must not lie".

compiled by: Nathalie Rosa Bucher & Kitty Dörje

Article based on interview conducted with German Khomotso Mahlase at his house, Masiphumelele, 26 December 2006.

EXHIBITIONS

1990
South African Youth Symposium - U.S.A. Pennsylvania
1998
Wits Tech nikon Student Exhibition
1999
Arts Alive - Pretoria Group Exhibition
2000
Solomon Malaga Award Group Exhibition
2002
IZIKO Museum Cape Town Group Exhibition
2003
Bellville Vessels Cape Town Group Exhibition
2004
The Cape Gallery – “Living Residue”
Pizzicato 10 years of democracy exhibition
2007
The Cape Gallery - "United colours of AmaNdebele"

WORK REPRESENTED IN THE FOLLOWING COLLECTIONS:

Nelson Mandela Metro pole Art Museum, Port Elisabeth

Iziko National Gallery, Cape Town