COLBERT MASHILE

(b. 1972, Bushbuckridge, South Africa)

'I come from a place that is shrouded by powerful cultural norms and customs.' These customs, such as the ritual of circumcision both myself and my wife have undergone.

Colbert Mashile explores the psychological impact of traditional circumcision and initiation rituals on initiates. He also explores the often problematic narratives of collective cultural determinants within these communities. As Colbert Mashile has matured, the psychological underpinnings are still evident, but his imagery has transgressed these limitations to begin addressing issues such as home, language and the natural landscape. Mashile, a quiet individual, reflects on his use of symbols and icons. He comments that it simply shows the 'truth about the land and its people and thus my existence in South Africa'. This poignant statement reflects someone who has a clear understanding of the prevalent issues in South Africa. His work references various elements of more traditional art production techniques (printmaking, drawing and painting). But, within this production, he isolates the personal narrative as the loudest voice within a cacophony of layers of symbology, meaning and reference.

SELECTED EDUCATION

2001                 Master of Arts in Heritage Studies, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa

1996-2000        Bachelor of Arts in Fine Arts, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa

SELECTED SOLO EXHIBTIONS

2020                 What I Dreamt During Times of Drought, Everard Read, Johannesburg, South Africa

2019                 VEDI, VINI, VICI, Everard Read Franschhoek, Franschhoek, South Africa

2018                 As We Are, CIRCA, Johannesburg, South Africa
                        Who feels it, Knows it, Everard Read, Cape Town, South Africa

2017                 Truth or Dare, Everard Read, Cape Town, South Africa
                        Just My Imagination, Everard Read, Johannesburg, South Africa

2016                 Man in the Arena, 1:54 African Art Fair, London CIRCA Gallery, London , UK

                          Man’s Duality (Unearthed) CIRCA, Johannesburg, South Africa

2016                 Man in the Arena, 1:54 African Art Fair, London CIRCA Gallery, London , UK

                          Man’s Duality (Unearthed) CIRCA, Johannesburg, South Africa

2015                 Beast of Burden NIROX Projects, Johannesburg, South Africa

                        S'Ka Motho (Just Like Man) SMAC Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa

2013                 Messages from our Ancestors Art , Eye Gallery, Sandton, Johannesburg, South Africa

2006                 Mmawaka Montedi AVA, Cape Town, South Africa

2004                 Tsa Bagale , Gallery On The Square, Sandton, Johannesburg, South Africa

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2020                 Staring Straight to the Future, Online Exhibition, Everard Read, UK & South Africa

                         The Portrait Show, Everard Read, Johannesburg, South Africa

2017                 Everard Read/Circa Booth Cape Town Art Fair

2016                 Everard Read/Circa Booth Cape Town Art Fair

                         Opening Exhibition, Everard Read, London, UK

2015                 FNB Jo-burg Art Fair, Everard Read Gallery Booth, Johannesburg, South Africa

2006                 Les arts de la Coexistence? Alliance Francaise, Paris, France

                         Les arts de la Coexistence? Musee des Arts Derniers, Paris, France

                        New Painting, KZNSA Gallery, Durban, South Africa

                        New Painting, Unisa Art Gallery, Pretoria, South Africa

                        DAK' ART, Dakar, Senegal

                        New Painting, Johannesburg Art Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa

 2005                  Brett Kebble Awards Exhibition , South Africa

                        ABSA L'Atelier Competition Exhibition, Absa Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa

                         Sasol New Signatures Competition Exhibition, Pretoria Art Museum, Pretoria, South Africa

                          Les arts de la Coexistence? Migrations Culturelles, Bordeaux , France

                        Les arts de la Coexistence? Médiathèque, Biarritz, France

                        Florence Biennale, Florence, Italy

2004                 ABSA L'Atelier Competition Exhibition, Absa Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa

                        Brett Kebble Awards Exhibition , South Africa

A Decade of Democracy: Witnessing South Africa: 2004 -2005, Boston, Smithsonian, Gibbs Museum, Detroit USA

                        The ID of South African Artists, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

A Decade of Democracy: South African Art 1994 -2004 from the Permanent Collection, South African National

                           Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa

 Making Waves (A selection of works from the SABC Art Collection) Johannesburg Art Gallery,     Johannesburg, South

                           Africa

                        Negotiated Identities - Black Bodies , Johannesburg Art Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa

2003                   Circumcised/Circumscribed, Axis Gallery, New York, USA

                        New Works, Art Space, Johannesburg, South Africa

                        Show Me Home, Johannesburg Art Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa

                        A New Collection, Gallery On The Square, Sandton, South Africa

2002                 Insider / Outsider, Art On Paper Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa

                        Klein Karoo National Arts Festival, Oudshoorn, South Africa

2001                 Museum Africa Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa

                        The Art Space Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa

2000                 ABSA Gallery, Johannesburg UNISA Art Gallery, Pretoria, South Africa

                        Malangatana in South Africa, Sandton Civic Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa

                        Bill Ainslie Art Gallery, South Africa

                        Klein Karoo National Arts Festival, Oudshoorn, South Africa

1998, 1999        Martienssen, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa

1994                 JHB Art Foundation, Johannesburg, South Africa

AWARDS

2000                 ABSA l'Atelier Merit Prize , South Africa

1999                 Certificate of First Class: Painting IV, Johannesburg Art Foundation, South Africa

1998                 Certificate of Merit: Outstanding Results in Drawing & Design III, South Africa

1992-1994         Certificate in Art Foundation Course , South Africa

1989                 Tladishi High School Matric , South Africa

SELECTED PUBLIC AND PRIVATE COLLECTIONS

3M, South Africa

African Life, South Africa

BHP Billiton (Gencor) Daniel Erasmus Attorneys , South Africa

Durban Art Gallery, South Africa

De Beers, South Africa

1. Oppenheimer & Sons Johannesburg Art Gallery, South Africa

IBM, South Africa

MTN Corporation, South Africa

NEDCOR Bank , South Africa

SASOL Limited, South Africa

South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) , South Africa

Stanlib,  South Africa

The Mandela Foundation, South Africa

The South African National Gallery , South Africa

University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa