#Esther Mahlangu

[carsthatnevermadeitetc]

BMW i5 Flow NOSTOKANA, 2024. The latest BMW Art Car combines colour-change technology developed by BMW with the artistic language of South African Ndebele artist Esther Mahlangu. In 1991, Mahlangu designed the 12th BMW Art Car, based on an E34 series BMW 525i – becoming the first woman and first African artist to do so. In the BMW i5 Flow NOSTOKANA, which is named after Mahlangu’s first son, sections of film that can be electronically animated are applied, with two strips each across the roof, bonnet and rear section, as well as the vehicle’s sides. The new car has been presented at the Frieze Los Angeles art fair

[soweirdsonormal]

[ec-phrasis]

Esther Mahlangu, Ndebele Abstract, 2019

[boredomdlux]

esther m 👑🪷💖🌍🌏🌎🌐✨💫

⏪ (((do u remember?)))

-the- art car... plz

'91 '91 🎶

[carmenvicinanza]

Esther Mahlangu

Icona pop, esposta in tutto il mondo, senza una sua opera una collezione d’arte africana è ritenuta incompleta, questa è Esther Mahlangu, artista sudafricana.

Dipinge vivaci opere geometriche basate sui tradizionali disegni della nazione Ndebele, di cui è eminente ambasciatrice culturale.

Spirito innovativo e dirompente, è riuscita a creare un ponte tra il mondo dell’arte tradizionale e quello contemporaneo, collaborando con celebrità, marchi globali, musei e istituti culturali.

Nata a Middelburg, l’11 novembre 1936, ha iniziato a dipingere a dieci anni, seguendo gli insegnamenti della madre e della nonna che, nella tradizione Ndebele, si tramandano, solo tra donne, un particolare tipo di tecnica pittorica solitamente riservata alla decorazione delle case in occasioni speciali come il passaggio all’età adulta.

Disegni caratterizzati da forme geometriche ripetute, limitate da un sottile bordo nero in contrasto con lo sfondo bianco. Simmetrie di linee e figure in cui i colori sono assolutamente predominanti. Partendo dalla tradizione, si è spinta oltre, reinventato questa tecnica su piattaforme più contemporanee come tele, sculture, ceramiche, automobili e addirittura aerei.

Ha collaborato con artisti come Andy Warhol, David Hockney e Frank Stella.

Le sue astrazioni hanno attirato l’attenzione internazionale, nel 1989, dopo la sua partecipazione a “Magiciens de la Terre” mostra collettiva al Centre Pompidou di Parigi, dove ha dipinto una replica della sua casa di fronte al pubblico intervenuto.

Due anni dopo, è stata la prima artista africana a ricevere l’incarico di dipingere una BMW Art Car.

Nel 1997 questo tipo di disegni è stato riportato anche sulle code degli aerei dalla British Airways e, dieci anni dopo, sulla nuova Fiat 500 in occasione della mostra “Why Africa?” a Torino.

Ha anche collaborato con diversi prestigiosi marchi come la Rolls-Royce.

Le sue opere sono nelle collezioni di celebrità come John Legend, Oprah Winfrey, Trevor Noah e Swizz Beatz.

Predominante nel suo lavoro è la tensione tra locale e globale, tra l’ancoraggio e il distacco. Attinge a piene mani la tradizione visiva locale che vuole rappresentare nel mondo per preservare la sua patria e cultura.

Ha fondato e dirige una scuola in cui insegna la sua tecnica pittorica e di creazione di gioielli, a giovani donne.

Un lavoro pionieristico e coraggioso, nato in un contesto di grandi difficoltà politiche e sociali, in cui propone con orgoglio un’arte legata alla rivendicazione etnica.

Nella sua lunga carriera, Esther Mahlangu ha ricevuto numerosi riconoscimenti, tra cui tre dottorati onorari e la nomina di Ufficiale dell’Ordine delle Lettere e delle Arti dal governo francese.

Nel febbraio 2024 è stata inaugurata la mostra “Then I Knew I Was Good at Painting: Esther Mahlangu, A Retrospective” presso la Iziko South African National Gallery.

Una vita spesa per l’arte come rivendicazione culturale.

[streetcars101magazine]

The BMW i5 Flow Nostok: A Revolution in Automotive Technology

The next step in art and automotive excellence is here

[itscolossal]

A Vibrant Ndebele Mural by Esther Mahlangu Illuminates Unity at Serpentine North

[formlab]

BMW Art Car, Esther Mahlangu, 1991

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Esther Mahlangu - Ndebele dwelling, 2018 - Acrylic on canvas

[girlfromsowetoo]

Dr. Esther Mahlangu (b. November 11, 1935) is a globally celebrated South African artist and cultural ambassador of the Ndebele people. Born in Middelburg, Mpumalanga, she grew up immersed in the vibrant traditions of Ndebele art. From a young age, she learned the techniques of beadwork and mural painting, which are passed down matrilineally among Ndebele women.

Mahlangu is renowned for her bold, geometric designs and vivid colors, which she applies to various mediums, from large-scale murals to modern objects like cars and airplanes. Her international breakthrough came in 1989 when she was invited to participate in the “Magiciens de la Terre” exhibition in Paris. Since then, her work has been showcased in prominent galleries and museums worldwide, including the British Museum and the Centre Pompidou.

Dr. Mahlangu has collaborated with global brands like BMW, Rolls-Royce, and Belvedere Vodka, blending traditional Ndebele art with contemporary design. In 2006, she received an honorary doctorate from the University of Johannesburg for her contributions to art and cultural preservation. A passionate advocate for cultural heritage, she continues to train young artists, ensuring the survival of Ndebele art for future generations.

What an honour attending her Exhibition ❤️🔥

[shaddad]

aos 88 anos, da artista esther mahlangu

[soweirdsonormal]

sneaker doccie coming soon

[ec-phrasis]

Esther Mahlangu, Untitled, 2008

[charlesandmartine]

Thursday 11th April 2024

The first sight on opening the blinds this morning at 7.45 was the clear blue sky totally uninterrupted by cloud. The second noticeable thing was Table Mountain clearly peeping above the building in front of us. What's more there was no cloud covering any of it's 3558ft of solid granite rock. Looking good we thought to get to the top today. Originally named Hoerikwaggo by the San tribe, in time this became difficult to pronounce so after tables had been invented, António de Saldanha from Portugal climbed the mighty mountain in 1503 and because of it's uncanny likeness to a table named it Taboa do Cabo (Table of the Cape). Clearly this was also difficult for some, so it became Table Mountain as we know it today.

Having said all that, for the third day running the mountain was shut, this time due to very high winds.

Plan B. So we googled Art Galleries and found reference to South Africa National Gallery just a mile away, so best foot forward and all that. Our route seemed to take us from the now familiar Waterfront area out into the CBD and beyond to what began to morph into a very pleasing part of town. The buildings became colonial, Georgian and well, British. Off to our left was the grand stuccoed and palladian shape of the House of Parliament. Over to our right was the Cathedral of St.George where of course Archbishop Tutu had been in residence, and also contains the organ incidentally from St.Margarets London, moved there in 1909. Between these two buildings was the entrance to a stunning and quite fetching park, passing yet more stuccoed buildings and culminating with the National Gallery. These grounds formed an unexpected oasis of tranquility and occasionally, white squirrels. As the sun shone, we felt quite grateful the mountain was shut because we probably would not have found this hallowed place. The gardens were originally landscaped in 1652 to provide fresh vegetables to Dutch trading ships that harboured in Cape Town on navigating the Cape of Good Hope. The first Cape wine was produced in 1656 from vines planted in these gardens. Now laid out in partarre form with rose gardens it makes a truly lovely spot and we enjoyed a flat white and lunch within it's leafy confines. Autumn is on its way and gardeners were gathering leaves.

Very interesting art gallery. The curators struggle with achieving the right mix of African versus European art. The problem being that they have an awful lot of European/ British output and very little African. This balance made even worse by the years of apartheid when African art was very much disparaged. Thankfully one leading light in the indigenous department shines through; one Esther Mahlangu who despite lacking early on with confidence and encouragement stuck to her feather brush and produced a prolific output. Including painting her parents house (ie all of it, top to bottom) along with a Series 5 BMW! You try and stop her.

Tiring now we turned for the Waterfront again, popping into Avis Rental to remind them to hose down the charabanc for us tomorrow so that we can set forth on the next stage of our journey. We agreed they could deliver it to us at the apartment while they were about it.

Back to the apartment for dinner. Great day and it is still blowing a gale outside.

ps Also found a chunk of the Berlin Wall!

pps The whole town is swarming tonight with people celebrating the end of Ramadan. Not to feel outdone, we bought a halal sausage!

[worshiptheglitch]

Esther Mahlangu

[reclaiming-spaces]

Esther Mahlangu's artistic style and cultural influence make her a unique artist. While it is difficult to find artists who share the exact combination of her distinctive Ndebele-inspired aesthetic and cultural context, there are artists whose work exhibits similarities or resonates with certain aspects of her art. Here are a few artists who explore themes of cultural heritage, vibrant colors, and geometric patterns, which may evoke a sense of affinity with Esther Mahlangu:

Nelson Mukhuba - A South African artist known for his colorful geometric patterns and contemporary interpretations of Venda culture.

Billie Zangewa - A South African artist who incorporates vibrant textiles, storytelling, and personal narratives to explore themes of identity and womanhood.

Firelei Báez - A Dominican-American artist whose work often involves intricate patterns, cultural references, and explorations of identity, memory, and history.

Wangechi Mutu - A Kenyan-American artist who combines collage, painting, and sculpture to explore themes of African identity, femininity, and cultural mythology.

El Anatsui - A Ghanaian sculptor renowned for his large-scale installations made from recycled materials, which resemble vibrant tapestries and evoke the traditions and history of West Africa.

Yinka Shonibare CBE - A British-Nigerian artist known for his use of African fabrics, vibrant colors, and historical references to explore themes of colonialism, globalization, and cultural identity.

While these artists may share certain resonances with Esther Mahlangu's work, it's important to note that each artist has their unique artistic voice and cultural context. They contribute to the rich diversity and ongoing dialogue within the contemporary art world, celebrating and exploring different aspects of cultural heritage, identity, and artistic expression.