Gallery 1957 company logo
Gallery 1957
Skip to main content
  • Menu
  • Home
  • Artists
  • Exhibitions
  • Fairs
  • Cultural Week
  • Residencies
  • Yaa Asantewaa Prize
  • News
  • Publications
  • About
  • Shop
Cart
0 items £
Checkout

Item added to cart

View cart & checkout
Continue shopping
Menu
  • Menu

Artworks

Wonder Buhle Mbambo, Umuzi wenkosi, 2023

Wonder Buhle Mbambo

Umuzi wenkosi, 2023
Acrylic and metallic paint
181 x 173 cm
71 1/4 x 68 1/8 in
Enquire
%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22artist%22%3EWonder%20Buhle%20Mbambo%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22title_and_year%22%3E%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_title%22%3EUmuzi%20wenkosi%3C/span%3E%2C%20%3Cspan%20class%3D%22title_and_year_year%22%3E2023%3C/span%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22medium%22%3EAcrylic%20and%20metallic%20paint%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%20class%3D%22dimensions%22%3E181%20x%20173%20cm%3Cbr/%3E%0A71%201/4%20x%2068%201/8%20in%3C/div%3E
This work is the reimagining of a historical image of Marcus Garvey, a figure synonymous with passionate activism and empowerment. Here, WonderBuhle ingeniously replaces Garvey's visage with his own, symbolising...
Read more
This work is the reimagining of a historical image of Marcus Garvey, a figure synonymous with passionate activism and empowerment. Here, WonderBuhle ingeniously replaces Garvey's visage with his own, symbolising that there is yet more to do and leaders are part of a chain of history. It is also a sort of homage to both the community and to the Great Marcus Garvey. The appropriation of colonial military uniform that adorns WonderBuhle underscores his perception of an ongoing collective struggle,
echoing a call to action for a harmonious and prosperous future. He also highlights the role of the military as one of the foundations of colonial conquest.

This captivating painting further features two heads gazing in opposing directions. One head looks toward family, while the other is fixed on the community. The liminal space in-between signifies the artist’s pivotal role as an unseen leader, embodying the responsibility of guiding and supporting those around him, rather than seeking personal acclaim. This duality encapsulates the essence of his connection to both his familial lineage and the broader social fabric. It is a reminder of service, duty, love, and care that is the root of WonderBuhle’s practice.
Close full details

Provenance

Durban, SA

Exhibitions

Gallery 1957, London 2023
Share
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Tumblr
  • Email
Previous
|
Next
612 
of  653

Gallery 1957, I, II and III, Accra
Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast & Galleria Mall
PMB 66 — Ministries
Gamel Abdul Nasser Avenue
Ridge — Accra
Ghana

info@gallery1957.com

Tues - Sat, 11-7pm during exhibitions

Free Admission

Gallery 1957, London
1 Hyde Park Gate
London
SW7 5EW
UK

london@gallery1957.com

Tues - Sat, 10-6pm during exhibitions

Free Admission

Facebook, opens in a new tab.
Instagram, opens in a new tab.
LinkedIn, opens in a new tab.
Artsy, opens in a new tab.
Join the mailing list
Manage cookies
© Gallery 1957
Site by Artlogic

This website uses cookies
This site uses cookies to help make it more useful to you. Please contact us to find out more about our Cookie Policy.

Manage cookies
Accept

Cookie preferences

Check the boxes for the cookie categories you allow our site to use

Cookie options
Required for the website to function and cannot be disabled.
Improve your experience on the website by storing choices you make about how it should function.
Allow us to collect anonymous usage data in order to improve the experience on our website.
Allow us to identify our visitors so that we can offer personalised, targeted marketing.
Save preferences
Close

Join our mailing list

Signup

* denotes required fields

We will process the personal data you have supplied in accordance with our privacy policy (available on request). You can unsubscribe or change your preferences at any time by clicking the link in our emails.