10 october 2023, Flor Linckens
Last chance: the invisible world of Mongezi Ncaphayi
Until 14 October, you can see a solo exhibition by Mongezi Ncaphayi at Enari Gallery in Amsterdam. In his practice, the South African artist delves into complex societal issues such as politics, power dynamics, gender, and systemic injustices. However, his abstract works are also characterised by a visual lightness. Additionally, the artist doesn't always adhere to the conventions and forms we are accustomed to, encouraging viewers to see his works with fresh eyes.
For his visual language, Ncaphayi draws inspiration from prominent figures like Klee, Kandinsky, and Miró, but (jazz) music also serves as a significant source of inspiration. The titles of his works often reference musical compositions, such as "Mistreated But Undefeated" (Ray Brown Trio) and "Focus On Sanity" (Ornette Coleman). The contrast between urban and natural elements is also a recurring theme in his paintings. However, it appears that, above all, the artist seeks to convey a feeling. In an interview with ArtThrob Ncaphayi states:
“I’m not in control. I’m just a conduit expressing a message, a feeling. Sometimes I don’t know what I’m doing, and it’s good to know that. I think my work is about the unknown, searching within yourself, just being. [Also,] you don’t just look and see. It’s the same as listening; there’s listening and then listening. And then, where does it take me? I listen and feel because there are degrees of listening and in the same way, there are degrees of seeing, looking deep within something, and then it hits you. How do we explain our experience of things that we cannot see? You can feel things that you cannot see.”
Ncaphayi's exhibition at Enari Gallery is titled 'Liminality In Space.' Many artists are drawn to the term 'liminal' because it evokes a sense of transition, ambiguity, and in-betweenness. It allows them to explore subjects like transformation, uncertainty, and the boundaries between different states or concepts.
Ncaphayi's wet-on-wet painting technique results in captivating textures and colour gradients. This painting technique, also known as alla prima (Italian for 'first attempt'), involves applying fresh paint onto a wet layer of paint. This can lead to a certain degree of colour blending and softening. The advantage of the wet-on-wet technique is that it allows the artist to work quickly, making it particularly suitable for impressionistic and abstract art. However, preserving specific details and achieving precision can be challenging because the paint blends rapidly. This technique, therefore, demands significant skill and speed from its painter. But Ncaphayi doesn't limit himself to using only paint; his works are marked by a mix of media.
The artist earned his diploma in Art & Design from Ekurhuleni East College in 2005, followed by a printmaking course at the Artist Proof Studio in Johannesburg in 2008. In 2012, he obtained a certificate from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. Ncaphayi received prestigious accolades, including the Absa L'atelier Gerard Sekoto Award, which granted him a residency at the Cité Des Arts in Paris, as well as an Africa First Art Prize. Furthermore, he participated in residency programs in Angouleme (the Atelier le Grand Village Residency) and Amsterdam (the Thami Mnyele Foundation Residency). His work has been included in the collections of the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art, the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, and the Bibliothéque Nationale de France in Paris.
