KZN artists feature in national portrait exhibition at KZNSA
Gary McIver, a high school art teacher, created At the Louvre, an oil-on-canvas portrait that blends classical technique with a contemporary classroom narrative.
Image: Supplied
DURBAN is set to welcome the exhibition of the Rust-en-Vrede Portrait Awards, South Africa's premier competition celebrating excellence in contemporary portraiture.
Artworks of the winner and the top 40, from across the country, will be exhibited at the KZNSA Gallery in Bulwer Road, from February 11 until March 1.
Since their inception in 2013, the Rust-en-Vrede Portrait Awards have established themselves as a celebration of portraiture, recognising outstanding artistic talent and fostering a deeper appreciation for contemporary identity through the medium of portrait art.
The awards invite submissions of original two-dimensional portraits from oil and mixed media to realism and abstraction, the finalists offer a vivid snapshot of contemporary identity and artistic talent.
KwaZulu-Natal artist Senzelw'umusa Mathe created intricate portraits entirely in tapestry crochet. Her piece, Bazali Bami (“My Parents”), is based on a photograph of her parents Her piece, Bazali Bami (“My Parents”),
Image: Supplied
Among the distinguished top 40 finalists showcased in this year's tour are two talented artists hailing from KwaZulu-Natal, Senzelw'umusa Mathe and Gary McIver.Mathe, 22, who is now based in Johannesburg, creates intricate portraits entirely in tapestry crochet.
Her piece, Bazali Bami (“My Parents”), is based on a photograph of her parents and celebrates the care and effort they invested in raising her.
For Mathe and her family, the exhibition represents a cherished opportunity to witness her work on their home turf.
Fellow finalist, McIver, a high school art teacher, created At the Louvre, an oil-on-canvas portrait that blends classical technique with a contemporary classroom narrative.
This work encapsulates a serene classroom moment, portraying a student engrossed in drawing as the afternoon light streams through the window.
McIver’s reflection on the piece connects classroom experiences, curiosity and discipline he encounters in his learners every day. The piece was inspired by a discussion among his students about the neoclassical painting “Young Woman Drawing” by Marie-Denise Villers, reinforcing McIver’s belief in the formative role classrooms play in nurturing artistic journeys.
Donavan Mynhardt, curator at Rust-en-Vrede Gallery, said this was a rare opportunity for an exhibition of this scale to travel across the country, adding that portraiture has a unique ability to connect with people on a deeply human level.
"The tour’s goal is simple but significant, to celebrate South Africa’s artistic talent and give audiences in different provinces the chance to experience these portraits in person. Together, the Portrait Awards and the Top 40 Tour highlight the value of showcasing homegrown creativity while reaffirming portraiture’s enduring power to tell stories.”
"You don’t have to be an art connoisseur to engage with it. I’m excited that the Top 40 tour will allow audiences across the country to experience these works first-hand and share in that connection,” said Mynhardt.
Artists whose work forms part of the tour include Malik Mani, Ashley Ogilvy, Baxolise Hanise, Richard Bollers, Lauryn Arnott, Elmarie Smuts, Heidi Botha, Hannah Anderson, Tiffany Baxter and Joseph Dolby.