This viewing room aims to introduce you to Simon Zitha and to provide a personal insight into his life, artworks and practice. The title of the viewing room is 'Khandziya e Ntshava' which means 'going up the mountain' or 'uphill battle'. This refers to Simon's connection to earth, his journey and how his story is narrated through the artworks that he creates.
These works are identity-defining for me because they speak about the rural villages of Bushbuckridge in Mpumalanga that I grew up in, the difficult upbringing, and family dynamics. The stones that I use in all of my work are stones from areas that are familiar to me. I go to the source and collect them from Mpumalanga and bring them back to my studio in the city. This is a constant comforting reminder that I may not be able to bring the rural home here with me but I can always take stones as pieces of it and the memories are kept alive by my own carving. This is valuable to me. - Simon Zitha
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Directed by Diliza Moabi
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The Stone we carry
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Simon ZithaBushbuck Ridge , 2021Bronze and stone124 x 54 x 40 cm
241 kgSold -
Simon ZithaFace Up , 2020Bronze50 x 47 x 84 cm
The act of praying with your head down is something a lot of people do consciously and unconsciously. For Simon it is a conscious act to pray with his face looking up to his ancestors and God. Therefore, Face Up is that act of always looking up and never down. The stone on top is a symbol of the burden that when praying we carry the burden that we ask them for help with.
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Homu
Cow -
Simon when asked in an interview what does he live by it was simple for him, The Cow, it’s my family totem and it is what feeds not only me, and my family but my spirit.
The Cow as a totem animal is associated with earth, medicine, motherhood with a strong mother goddess instinct. Therefore, it is not surprising that in most of Zitha’s works he pays homage to the journey of women in the world whilst still acknowledging his ancestors. In all his works he incorporates the earth as stone to show that yes they might seem as separate entities but they are one in the same.
In many cultures around the world, the cow is holy, with Hinduism believing that all cows are sacred, which is why many people of that faith do not eat cows at all. As spirit animal cows are there to help with those that are struggling with fertility usually offering motherly advice.
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I stand before a woman. She is considering whether she still wants to hang on or to let go. I stand empathic before all women who grapple with conflict. Many women carry with them abuse and discomfort and it is with great braveness that they cope with these elements and eventually release form consequential constraints - Simon Zitha
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Sibongile
Thank You -
Sibongile is the Zulu word for Thank you. Zitha in this body in his latest body of works presents woman with heavy objects on their heads. In Africa, woman can often be seen walking with large, heavy packages or items borne on their heads. However, he has also used this symbolically to represent the many hardships and responsibilities that woman are expected to perform and accept despite enormous challenges.
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Simon ZithaSibongile (half bust), 2021Bronze and stone161 x 70 x 60 cm
216 kgFor this sculpture, Simon used quartz, granite from Belfast in Mpumalanga, the area from which he comes, and bronze. The smooth texture of the bronze casting allows for a realistic portrayal of her face which is in stark contrast to the rough textures of the stone. The heavy weight on her head speaks to the load that woman are expected to carry every day despite enormous challenges
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Simon ZithaSibongile , 2021Bronze and stone118 x 48 x 48 cm
62 kgIn this sculpture, Simon has cast Sibongile’s face and torso in bronze and used Belfast granite from Mpumalanga, the area from which he comes for the load that she carries on her head. Sibongile is presented with grace and pride despite the heavy load that represents the enormous hardships and challenges that woman face in Africa on a daily basis.
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Mahlavezulu
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Simon ZithaMahlavezulu, 2020Bronze76 x 34.5 x 99 cm(C003603)R 230,000.00
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Simon ZithaLion of Judah , 2021Bronze and stone107 x 60 x 166 cm
196 kgSold -
In Studio
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A master craftsman, specializing in stone, Zitha has worked with Angus Taylor at Dionysus Sculpture Studio & Foundry for 15 years where he holds the position of team leader in stone carving.
The creative studio and foundry Dionysus Sculpture Works (DSW) was established by South African sculptor Angus Taylor in 1996. This creative space is constantly expanding, striving towards excellence and offering a notable contribution to the South African art scape.
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"If you want to go fast go alone. If you want to go far go together" - African Proverb
