Malebona Maphutse

Lives and works in Johannesburg, South Africa

Artist statement

Malebona Maphutse is a Johannesburg based artist who has completed her BA (Fine Art) Degree at the University of Witwatersrand in 2017. She works in and outside of the academic institution. She enjoys reading, listening to jazz, hip hop, tranquil, reggae, soul, neo-soul, folk, and kwaito music. She enjoys reading and writing poetry in her spare time. Her work has existed in/at several exhibitions, spaces, and happenings. The concept of witchcraft (Boloi/Boloyi) stems from the demonization of traditional beliefs and customs. There has been a taboo around what African spiritual and traditional practices represent which has set a preference for a Western-translated, transferred Christianity, thus creating a binary between the two in a South African context. Her work draws from the premise of religious syncretism to realize the links, crossovers, and realistic manifestations as reenactments of both belief systems in the context of Johannesburg and South Africa as a whole. Both belief systems have a space in which the supernatural is present; both have the power to achieve the impossible for those who believe and desperately need spiritual guidance, healing, and possibilities for a better future. Throughout her body of work, the artist narrates history through her works on canvas, sculptural installation, Linocut prints, digital prints, and video. Her digital collages and installations appropriate visuals and language of street flyers, bitingly exploring the historical debt...

Artwork