Witness the remarkable transformation of printmaker Nompumelelo Edith Bukani as she emerges from the footnotes of others’ narratives and boldly claims her own story. The title of the solo exhibition, My Name Will Be Mine One Day, is a direct quote from Bukani, who is a South African visual artist known for her trademark prints, and an entrepreneur with a beading and sewing business in Makhanda.
In her groundbreaking autobiographical exhibition, My Name Will Be Mine, Bukani invites you on a journey that delves into the intricacies of her life as a Makhanda-based woman. Sketching for Bukani is a way to record her dreams and reflect on childhood memories. Bukani joined the Dakawa Art Center programme in 1992, and since then has continued with her passion to observe nature, animals and people through her drawings and prints. She designs her compositions from studying patterns in landscapes, animals, and Xhosa traditional clothing and accessory designs.
This exhibition was developed as a two-month artist’s residency with the Residencies for Artists and Writers (RAW) project that is part of the Arts of Africa and Global Souths research programme at Rhodes University. The residency and exhibition are supported by the National Research Foundation SARChI Chair programme in Geopolitics and the Arts of Africa.
Nompumelelo Edith Bukani will be present in the exhibition/studio space throughout the National Arts Festival.