Siwela, Themba

KwaMashu’s Themba Siwela has risen through his own efforts from humble beginnings to the position he holds today as a leading South African painter, cartoonist and illustrator. That he is able, in amongst the hectic deadlines that are part and parcel of his profession as an illustrator, to produce the volume and quality of painting evident on this show is testament to the commitment of this hard-working artist.
Siwela’s story is one of a talent so tenacious that it prevailed despite obstacles that would have demolished the aspirations of a normal person. He experienced grinding poverty and hunger as a child – his family was so poor that weeks would go by without a decent meal – but through his talent and determination he was able to rise above the human and social disadvantages that he and his family had had to endure, and to assert himself, not only as an artist of importance, but as one of South Africa’s leading cartoonists.
Siwela works from the kitchen of the four-room township home he shares with the rest of his extended family in KwaMashu. It is here where he manages to find space for his drawing board, canvases, paints, laptop computer and scanner amongst the hubbub of family life. Perhaps this is what gives his paintings and drawings their warm humanity and provides them with the closely observed detail for which they are so notable.
Siwela is an icon in his neighbourhood, a mentor to young artists from all over the township and proof to them that art in general, and cartooning in particular, can be viable career options. But while he was growing up, the idea of art as a career was not widely accepted amongst township communities. The idea that it was possible to earn a living as a cartoonist never entered anyone’s mind. When Themba revealed his artistic aspirations to his primary school teacher, she scolded him, gave him a slap and advised him that if he continued with his artistic aspirations, he would never amount to anything. How wrong she has been proved to be!
Themba credits his late mother for the appreciation and encouragement of his drawing talent and childhood aspirations to be an artist. Despite the contrary message of his primary school teacher, his mother gave him reason to believe that he would one day achieve his dream. The encouragement given to Siwela by his mother, combined with his own determination to succeed, was bolstered at high school by the affirmation and support provided by another very important figure in his life, his high school art teacher, Paul Sibisi. Mzuvele Secondary School in KwaMashu was the only school in the township to offer art as a subject, and Sibisi, himself a notable artist, collaborated with Themba on a number of art projects during his schooldays, submitting entries to national art competitions advertised in the press and on Television. The first of these, sponsored by Colgate, won them a cash prize, and in another, sponsored by BMW, they won R15 000, a huge amount of money in those days. This prize not only had an impact on the life of the struggling Siwela family, for whom Themba was able to buy a much-needed stove and other domestic appliances, but it also changed his relationship to his family. From that moment on the sixteen year-old became the household’s primary provider.
Siwela subsequently worked as a portrait artist in a mall in Johannesburg, and as a freelance artist, submitting his work to group shows wherever possible. His work was spotted by the Cape Town collector, Bruce Campbell Smith, who has acquired a number of his works over the years. Several of these works were included in the groundbreaking exhibition and catalogue of the Campbell Smith Collection, entitled Revisions: Expanding of South African Art (2006).
Siwela joined the Durban Cartoon Project (DCP), an arts development project sponsored by and based at Artworks communications, in 2001. From here he went on to produce the humour strip, Majimbos, for Bona magazine, the daily strip, Mzansi, for the Sowetan newspaper, as well as strips for Mshana and other magazines. He has also produced editorial cartoons for The Mercury.
He has illustrated a number of important educational comic strips for public health, education and safety programmes, notably the CHAMP Project for the HSRC and McCord’s Hospital, produced in collaboration with the Psychology Department of the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
His achievement in art has taken him as far as Switzerland and London on exchange programmes with South African and United Kingdom counterparts
His most important artistic contribution has been his paintings, of which he has somehow been able to produce a steady stream over the last decade. These paintings deal with social life, particularly the everyday life of the townships and rural areas. Strongly influenced by the work of the late Trevor Makhoba, Siwela does not shy away from social issues such as teenage pregnancy, but he always brings a refreshing dose of humour to his observations of human life.
From a technical point of view the works on this exhibition are innovative in that many of them are produced with ordinary contractors’ enamel paint, diluted with petrol. Despite the toxicity and technical difficulties of working in this medium, Siwela has managed to produce paintings which are notable for their warmth and luminosity, as well as the precision of their composition and draughtsmanship.
One exhibition at a time, Themba Siwela is establishing himself as an important South African painter.
Andy Mason, 2009
EXHIBITIONS
Heritage Day Exhibition, Durban Art Gallery, 2001-2002
Black and White Exhibition, KZNSA, 2001
Resistance, Reconciliation Exhibition, Pretoria, 2003
Abelumbi Exhibition, Durban Art Gallery, 2004
Fumeletto Exhibition, Switzerland, 2004
Transatlantic Exhibition, S.A. and London, 2004
Black Exhibition, KZNSA, 2005
Young, Black and Gifted Exhibition, BAT Centre,2005
Journey, BAT Centre, 2007
Revisions, African Art Centre, 2007
Pincha Exhibition, Harlem, 2008
African Art Centre,94 Florida Road
Morningside
Durban 4001