Nosiviwe Matikinca, a 23-year-old rising star and winner of the 2023 Sasol New Signatures Art Competition, is about to make her solo exhibition debut. Her show, titled Ukungalingani Kwezemfundo (Educational Inequality), will be featured at the Pretoria Art Museum from 5 September to 3 November 2024.
Originally from Cape Town and raised in Hermanus, Nosiviwe’s journey in art began at Cedar High School of the Arts and continued through the Peter Clarke Art Centre. She honed her skills under the guidance of Zimbabwean artist Ashleigh Temple-Camp and earned her Bachelor of Visual Arts Degree from Nelson Mandela University in Gqeberha.
Her work, which won her the 2023 Sasol New Signatures title, draws attention to the struggles faced by students in underfunded public schools. One striking aspect of her art is the use of fragile clay castings of school shoes, symbolising the basic necessities that many students lack. In her solo exhibition, these clay shoes take on even deeper meaning as she expands her exploration of educational inequality.
Matikinca’s exhibition doesn’t just revisit her previous themes but dives deeper into the issues. She uses different materials, like printmaking and various castings, alongside her signature ceramics. Her work depicts overcrowded classrooms, a shortage of school tables, and the challenges students face in such environments. Each carved detail on the tables in her artworks tells a story of distracted learners, overwhelmed by the noise and chaos of packed classrooms.
Nosiviwe explains, “I wanted to continue the narrative I began in 2023. My goal is to highlight and educate the public about the challenges faced by students from underprivileged backgrounds. My artworks reflect the realities of overcrowded classes and the lack of resources that force students to share or use broken tables. The carvings on these tables are a tribute to the students who were left struggling due to these conditions.”
Sasol’s Art Curator, Cate Terblanche, sheds light on the importance of clay in Nosiviwe’s work, saying, “Clay is essential to understanding her art. It’s an organic material that can be shaped and transformed, much like how education is meant to shape young minds. However, the fragility of clay also reflects the vulnerability of South Africa’s public schooling system.”
Nosiviwe’s exhibition will run alongside the Sasol New Signatures 2024 exhibition, which will also take place at the Pretoria Art Museum. This event will feature 139 works selected from across South Africa, showcasing the richness and diversity of contemporary art in the country. The winners of the 2024 competition will be announced on 4 September, kicking off what promises to be an inspiring exhibition season.
If you’re in the area, don’t miss this chance to see Nosiviwe Matikinca’s thought-provoking work and explore the broader landscape of South African art at the Pretoria Art Museum this September.
* The Sasol New Signatures exhibition will run from Thursday, 5 September to Sunday, 3 November 2024 at the Pretoria Art Museum.
