Mitochondria Gallery is pleased to present, Lefa La Bontatara, the debut solo exhibition by South African Artist, Zwelethu Machepha.
Addressing the yields of ancestral connection and the juxtaposition of a severed link between a group of people and their heritage, “Lefa La Bontatarona” translates to “Our inheritance” from the Sesotho language spoken by the Sotho people who reside in South Africa and their neighboring countries.
Zwelethu was born into the twilight of South Africa’s Apartheid regime, he was raised in the township of Soweto. Soweto was created in the 1930’s by South Africa’s government with the target of segregating Black South Africans. Growing up in Soweto, Zwelethu was surrounded by innovation, improvisation, and a history of resistance. These elements influenced his artistic practice to be experimental and to lend his voice to current affairs.
In “Lefa La Bontatarona”, Zwelethu is reaching for vigor from the distant past of his cultural heritage, where he attempts to connect with ancestral roots that have been shrouded. In creating this body of work, Zwelethu travels though the path of reestablishment in his artistic practice and as a member of humanity.
Working with ink, charcoal, watercolors, phosphorus pigments, silk, and polyester threads, Zwethu presents eight portrait drawings to translate the message of human connection. His distinct multiple exposure portraits are present throughout this body of work. The intersecting ink fine lines cascade through overlapping facial reconstruction of his subjects, this is symbolic of our outer and inner self. Watercolors flow through these fine lines, indicative of the connection between the body and the soul.
“Lefa La Bontatarona” opens on the 15th of April from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm.
Opening Reception: April 15th, 2023 6pm-8:30 pm.
Public Viewing: April 15th to May 6th.
Address: 2220 Commerce Street #D, Houston, Texas. 77002
Phone: +1.832.271.0193
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