Andrew Ntshabele
Artist Statement Andrew Orapeleng Ntshabele
My work focuses on urbanisation in Johannesburg. My interest in the city of Johannesburg developed out of the fact that it is the city that I have grown up in since the age of four. I have had the pleasure of witnessing South Africa’s first democratic votes in 1994, and seeing Johannesburg’s transformation from the early nineties, mid-nineties to the present. I still live in Johannesburg and am confronted by poverty, pollution, and urban decay every day of my life.
I have seen the effects that urbanisation has had on the city of Johannesburg in relation to its physical change,socio-economic and political change post-apartheid. My areas of interest are the people who live in the inner city and the environment within the inner city.
My work deals with the negative effects of rapid urbanisation in Johannesburg and the pressures and the strains of the people I encounter and interact with on a daily basis as we go about our business. Based on my encounters with these people I felt the need to investigate the social predicament of my city and understand the root causes of the current inner city decay.
My work is a form of social commentary and deals with the socio-economic challenges that the majority of black South Africans face in post-colonial South Africa. My focal subject matter is rapid urbanisation in the inner city of Johannesburg and the pollution and rubbish among which the inner city residents live. My paintings incorporate more than one medium as they are a fusion of collage and acrylic paint. My works are produced from actual photographs that I take on my daily travels around the inner city of Johannesburg and its outskirts.
Biography Andrew Orapeleng Ntshabele
Andrew was born in the small rural town of Moruleng in the North West province ofSouth Africa. In his formative years his family moved to the city of Johannesburgamongst the hustle and bustle of the urban life, where he currently resides.
His passion and love for the visual arts was identified by his teachers through nursery school right up to High school. This led him to enrol at the University of Johannesburg,which enhanced his knowledge in the world of visual arts and enriching hisopportunities . His education at art school has Moulded Andrew into a well-rounded visual artist and youth.
He completed his National diploma in Fine Arts in 2012 in painting and drawing, and in 2013 he completed his BTech degree majoring in painting. He has participated in a group exhibitions such as the University of Johannesburg student show case group exhibition, North-South central Fringe of Johannesburg group exhibition, North South student show case traveling group exhibition to name a few. His most notable achivements are getting a painting merit award at the Ekurunuleni 2012 Thami Mnyele Fine Arts Awards ,Curated group Exhibition. Getting commissioned to paint a portrait (mine worker) for the Exxaro portrait project in 2012, commisioned to paint the Minister of Tourism Derek Hanekom, for Meetings Africa 2015 at the Sandton convention centre. Exhibiting at the Turbine art fair 2015 part of the emerging artists mentorship programme hosted by the Assemblage Studios and Fresh Produce. Andrrw has gained international recognition in the past two years. He has been exhibiting in international art fairs and pop exhibitions such as Art Laren in Holland,
SeeyouArt in Amsterdam 2018, a Solo with Art Chemistry Gallery in Holland in 2019,
Brussels affordable artfair, Belgium 2019, Art Munich 2019, Germany, The travelling Art gallery pop exhibitions 2018 & 2019 Germany. MAD( making a difference) art auctions London & Johannesburg 2018, ART INNSBRUCK International artfair, And the travelling Art gallery, exhibiting in Germany, Austria and Switzerland in 2020.These are but a few of many local and international events Andrew has been a part of.
The majority of his works are painted and drawn in realistic style. He’s recent works are of the effect of rapid urbanisation in the city of Johannesburg. He’s subject matter are the poor and marginalised people who eke out a living in the inner city and its out skirts. His goals and ambitions are: To exhibit his artworks in major galleries nationally and internationally, to make a difference in the community, engage and educate people who are less fortunate than he is about visual art and life in general, to grow as a person spiritually and emotionally, to keep his friends and family close, to never forget where he came from and those who helped him along the way. Andrew is a hardworking and motivated individual with a sense of hurmor: His pastimes include: gyming, listening to music, attending functions, exhibitions, watching movies, cooking and more.
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