Senzo Shabangu South African, b. 1985
I draw my inspiration from my dreams, my imagination and the reality of our lives as spiritual beings, especially people who come from humble beginnings like rural areas, townships, and migrants. People who seek change and to own something and not be swallowed by the big cities.
Senzo Shabangu was born in the village of Driefontein, Mpumalanga, in 1985 and spent a large part of his childhood living at an apostolic mission station. Imagery from this time in his life features regularly in his work. Shabangu came to Johannesburg in 2006 after completing his Matric, and although he had dreams of becoming a pilot, he ended up studying printmaking at the Artist Proof Studio in Newtown (2006-2008) after being introduced to the medium through the Taxi Art Education Program at the Johannesburg Central Library. Although this was the beginning of Shabangu’s formal artistic training, he had been drawing on his own since childhood.
As artists, we live on Earth and we are not aliens. We can’t be isolated from the community and our daily lives and issues. I believe we have the power to change the landscape and the view of things. We also play a huge part in documenting our history, especially as black artists.
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A landscape is politicised through events taking place in: Senzo Shabangu’s ‘ Humble Abode’ exhibition
Fadzai Muchemwa Lifang Zhang 11 Jul 2021Senzo Shabangu’s exhibition Their Humble Abode opened shortly after the suspension of the first round of recent protests in Makhanda . On 24 May, the...Read more -
The Portfolio: Senzo Shabangu on not being scared of colour
Senzo Shabangu 5 Jul 2021I did this work during lockdown at a time when people couldn’t go to galleries. It affected us big time because we had to rely...Read more -
Endless Journey: on Senzo Shabangu’s Landscapes
A feature by Barnabas Ticha Muvhuti 7 Jun 2021Four lifeless bodies lie on the surface. One is on all fours, either going down or trying to get up, a hint of resurrection perhaps....Read more
