Mtakatya completed his
education at Guguletu High School in 1986. An active member of the Cape
Youth Congress he was detained in 1986.
"I began scratching and drawing on the grey
walls of the prison cell to relieve my frustration" says Mtakatya.
In 1987 he was able to attend drawing lessons at the
Community Arts Project in Woodstock part time. He graduated in a course
in media and continued to study the visual arts part time. His interest
led him to complete the four-year study of Fine Arts at The Foundation
School of Art and receive his Diploma in Fine Arts in 1993.
Since then he has been involved in community projects
teaching children and adults in art and media workshops or participating
as a practicing artist. In this capacity he taught screen-printing to
unemployed mothers from the underprivileged areas such as Crossroads near
Cape Town. He has assisted and convened workshops in the Boland and other
rural areas organized by C.A.P. (Community Arts Project), the ANC and
other progressive organizations in the Western Cape.
Mtakatya established a successful studio workshop in
Khayelitsha (Khaymep). He has also facilitated several fine art workshops
for children and adults, (eg screen printing).
Quote from the program of his solo exhibition at the
AVA:
“Mtakatya’s pastels portray
an episodic sequence of daily experiences. Life is like street theatre,
he says, with a lot of improvisation. Life is love, betrayal, is lust,
and is colourful, he continues. One needs to look behind curtains and
under the carpet! Then one will see the sequence of the episodes of life.”
With his vibrant colour combinations, his well-developed
draftmanship, his strong sense of line and his engaging African characters
who are caught in typical local adventures, he harmonises the scenes in
his work, filling them with warmth to feed his soul and build his inner
strength.
EXHIBITIONS
2017
Dream now, dream not, the annual Winter Solstice Exhibition, The Cape Gallery
2016
The Rain Maker, annual Winter Solstice exhibition at The Cape Gallery
Review, group exhibition at The Cape Gallery
2015
Along the way, group exhibition at The Cape Gallery
2014
Telling our story; group exhibition at The Cape Gallery
Threshold, annual Winter Solstice exhibition at The Cape Gallery
2012
Siyakubona, group exhibition at The Cape Gallery
Turn Around Time, annual Winter Solstice exhibition at The Cape Gallery
Social Synergy, group exhibition at The Cape Gallery
2011
Part of the Group Solstice Exhibition "Continuum" at the Cape Gallery
2005
Part of the Group exhibition “Encompass” at the Cape Gallery
A solo exhibition at the AVA entitled “Episodes”
2004
Wits university
2002
Thapong Workshop exhibition in Botswana
2001 and 2002
Thupelo workshop exhibitions
2000
First solo exhibition (sponsored by AVA)
1999
the Annexe of SANG
Agender 21 Mural Global in Germany
1997
Participated in a group exhibition held in the Robben Island Museum.
1995
Manyano in Argentina
1994
Exhibited in a show entitled "Siyawela" exhibited in Birmingham
and London, England.
1991
Travelling exhibition at The Center for African Studies, U.C.T.
The Royal Festival Hall in London
The Aberdeen City Art Gallery
The Bolton art gallery
1990
Mead Gallery University in Warwick
Exhibited at the Museum for Modern Art in Oxford, England.
Group Show at Manenberg Peoples Centre.
1995
Participated in a group show 'Manyano' with four other artists in Azul,
Argentina.
1993 - 4
Commissioned to paint a 14,66 x 8,23 m mural by the Nico Malan Opera
Theatre addressing the issues of urbanization past and present.
1993
Solo graduation show at The Foundation School of Art, Cape Town.
1992
Exhibited in a group show at the Mayibuye Centre, U.W.C.(University of
Western Cape.)
1988
‘Eye of an Artist' Guguletu.
' “Art End Conscription" at Michaelis School of Fine Art, U.C.T.
(University of Cape Town)
Took part in a four-man show in 'Augsburg International'
1987
C.A.P. One Day Group Show.
He has collaborated with several artists such as Louis
Jansen van Vuuren, Wiseman Zwane, Tamlin Blake, Velile Soha, Claudia Francia
and Uta Gobbel Gross, amongst others. His work hangs in the public collections
of SA Breweries, Nando’s in London, Old Mutual, Niedersachsichs
Bildunginitiativen Hanover, Germany and Spier. In 1993 he was commissioned
by the Nico Malan Opera House ( now Artscape ) to paint a mural, addressing
issues of urbinization. He has also worked in Germany for several months
at a time, participating in workshops and painting murals there. |
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Artist: XOLILE MTAKATYA
Title: Tapestries of Positivities
Size: 70 x 100 cm
Media: Pastel
ID: 06445
Price: R 22 000 Framed
The ritual and fetish figures often portrayed in Xolile Mtakatya's works
are not always used for their original symbolic significance, but rather
for their inherent beauty and to elicit an emotional response in the viewer.
These objects serve as modern-day metaphors in their efforts to facilitate
social change among the diverse cultures globally.
source: January 2002 Art News that is edited by Jean Campbell. |