​Contemporary South African Art

Portfolio of 5 linocuts, by Gordon Mbatha and Joel Sibisi titled the Shaka Portfolio.   The images are designs that were produced  for tapestries for the KwaZulu Natal Legislature in Pietermaritzburg depicting the history of Shaka Zulu.  According to a thesis by Suzanne Francis the tapestries were eventually completed and are currently installed in the Legislative chamber (the outer wall covered in tapestries depicting the history of the Zulu and a life size bronze statue of Shaka Zulu.)  

The portfolio of linocuts depicting the history of Shaka Zulu was produced for the African Art Centre in 1989 and printed by printmaker, Jan Jordaan from Artists for Human Rights.  The edition I have belongs to one of our Directors who has relocated and has asked me to try to find a buyer for them.  The edition size is 25 of which we have number  1/25.    (I apologise for the quality of the images, but the works are framed and the under glass)

Gordon Mbatha was originally employed as a weaver at Rorke's Drift.  In 1986 he trained as a potter at the Art and Craft Centre. Mbatha is represented in art museum collections in SA and abroad. While his focus is on ceramics he is also an accomplished linocut artist.
Joel Sibisi was born at Rorke's Drift. After leaving school he worked on farms in the Dundee area. In 1970-71 he attended the ELC Centre where he trained in the Ceramic Workshop. He favoured the cylinder, mostly monochromatic in colour, with figurative decoration. Animated figures of men, animals and mythical creatures leap off the surface of his pots. He exhibited at the Durban Art Gallery (DAG) on the 1970 exhibition entitled ELC Art and Craft Centre, Rorke’s Drift.  The Durban Art Gallery acquired work by him off that exhibition. His work is represented in major public galleries and private collections in SA and abroad.
The price of the portfolio is R10 000.00 (R2 000.00 each, but we would like to sell the works as a unit).  All the works are mounted and framed under glass with a simple wooden frame.  I apologise for the quality of the images, the reflection of the glass makes it difficult to photograph.  I have not sent this portfolio to anyone else, you are the first.   I await your response.
The portfolio is in the collection of MTN, The Tatham Art Gallery and the Durban Art Gallery.
References
Hobbs P &Rankin E, (2003), Rorke's Drift: empowering prints, (Cape Town), p.224