IKhaya Lam¿
by Khaya Tshabalala, in partial fulfilment of a Masters of Arts in Fine Arts
Opening 30 April at 17h30
Exhibitions runs until 8 May - see poster for viewing times
Contact: tshabalalamonchie@gmail.com
The Zulu phrase "IKhaya Lami" - meaning "my home". Yet, in my work, this phrase becomes "IKhaya Lam?," a questioning that underscores the intricate dynamics between belonging, identity, and land. This interrogation reveals that the relationship between self and place operates beyond mere physicality. It asserts that land is intrinsic to the very being of its inhabitants, shaping our sense of self and existence.The quest for home is not only a search for place but a profound exploration of identity, memory, and heritage. This body of work is a testament to the encoded histories and preserved experiences of Black South Africans, honoring the complex narratives of land, displacement, and belonging. Simultaneously, "IKhaya Lam?" critically engages with the ongoing legacies of land dispossession, challenging prevailing narratives that erase or marginalize indigenous relationships with land, and insisting on the centrality of these experiences within contemporary discourse.
Khaya Tshabalala is a multidisciplinary artist from Soweto, Johannesburg, whose work confronts the historical injustices and ongoing disparities perpetuating landlessness. Through autoethnographic methodologies, incorporating sensory processes like walking, photography, and collecting materials, Khaya creates immersive sculptural and spatial installations. These works invite embodied experiences, exploring the intricate relationships between the tangible and intangible, physical and metaphysical. By probing the intersections of identity, belonging, and heritage, Khaya's practice seeks to deepen our understanding of the impact of landlessness on the human experience.