World-renowed artist Nkoali Nawa has decided to use 2024 to progress from his signature charcoal on Fabriano board, to oil on canvas.
Nawa, from Welkom, says he decided to diversify to oils as a commercial medium while he builds up stock for a major solo charcoal on Fabriano exhibition this year.
He is excited about his new adventure into oil painting, but says he still has to find a niche.
“My works are still inspired by people who strive to put food on their tables daily by selling different soft goods on the streets and door-to-door.
“My intention is to encourage people to stand up and do something for themselves and their families in order to survive in their daily lives.”
This artist was born and bred in Thabong, and began his working life as a goldminer in the 1980’s in Welkom.
Art is, however, his passion and in 2001 he completed his BTech Fine Art studies at the Free State Technikon, these days known as the Central University of Technology (CUT). This is the year that he started his career as a professional visual artist.
In 2002 Nawa was the visiting artist at the Bag Factory, Johannesburg, and at the Greatmore Art Studios, Woodstock.
He has taught and lectured art throughout South Africa. In 2019, Nawa was selected to participate in the 2019 Nando’s Creative Exchange project.
“I am a survivor. I work locally but I think internationally,” he says.
He has travelled from the United Kingdom (UK) to the Netherlands, and from Cape Town to Austria.
He has exhibited on numerous international platforms and his works are hung in galleries all across the globe.
“But, sadly, I am unknown in my home town, and this is one of the reasons why I am attracted to depict ordinary people in ordinary circumstances who are struggling to survive.”
In 2023 Nawa produced two very profound charcoal on Fabriano works entitled Dumpers.
These works were influenced by the local community members in the township who usually throw the rubbish from their dustbins in public, open spaces.
He told Vista this habit causes a serious health hazard to people in the community who reside near the illegal dumping sites, and also causes water to not flow properly during heavy rain storms.
The artwork’s intention is to encourage the younger generation to go back to using traditional methods of cooking at traditional ceremonies.
In 2021 Nawa released a set of charcoal drawings depicting the lives and ethos of the everyman during the KwaZulu-Natal riots of 2021. The set was a representation of the police, national defence force, and looters during the riots in July 2021.
One of his more socially poignant works were, however, produced in 2020. The works showed his concern about gender-based violence (GBV) in South Africa. The artwork represented women and men taking a stand against South Africa’s pandemic of GBV.
“During the lockdown, there had been a striking increase in GBV cases and due to the poor justice system, people were adopting alternative means of voicing their frustrations.
“It is generally perceived that the punishment meted out to the perpetrators of these dastardly acts is light compared to the trauma suffered by victims and their families,” says Nawa.
Through this art he wanted to raise awareness, while encouraging more protection of women and children.
Through the years, each and every one of Nawa’s evocative works have been inspired by social issues.
In 2019 it was the controversy surrounding the initiation tradition.
“My intention as an artist is to discourage the illegal initiation schools, and also to sympathise or pay homage to those who lost their lives,” said Nawa.
My works are still inspired by people who strive to put food on their table daily – Nkoali Nawa
Nkoali Nawa’s impressive piece Showing Off Fabulous Lives II (1 000 mm x 1 000 mm, charcoal on paper) was chosen to be part of the Nando’s Creative Exchange in an exhibition at the AVA Gallery in Cape Town 2018. Photo: Supplied
