About the artist
Abongile Sidzumo (b. 1996) is a visual artist based in Cape Town, where he currently resides and works. He earned his Fine Arts degree from the Michaelis School of Fine Arts in 2019.
His work was featured in the exhibition 'We’ve Come to Take You Home', showcasing pieces acquired by the University of Cape Town. Sidzumo received the Blessing Ngobeni Art Prize, which enabled him to hold a solo exhibition titled 'Dancing in the Dust' at Everard Read Gallery in Johannesburg in 2020. That same year, he was a runner-up for the Cassirer Welz Award, hosted by Strauss & Co auctioneers.
Sidzumo has also participated in various group exhibitions. In 2021, he won the Absa L’Atelier Gerald Sekoto Award, which included a three-month residency at the Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris, France. This was followed by a solo exhibition at the Absa Gallery in Johannesburg in 2023, which later toured across South Africa.
The City of Love
Leather, waxed braided thread and buttons on canvas - 2023
The artwork is from Sidzumo's 2023 solo exhibition at the Absa Gallery, titled Amagoduka. In this series, he uses discarded leather offcuts to create imaginative landscapes, stitching them together with thread. This approach explores themes of migrant labor, land, and class.
Influenced by his life experiences and the everyday realities of black communities, Sidzumo uses the term "Amagoduka" to refer to individuals who live in urban areas but hail from rural backgrounds. This concept prompts reflections on belonging and the notion of home. By repurposing leather offcuts, he highlights the livelihoods of the working class. His work brings attention to the often-overlooked suffering and violence faced by black people due to a legacy of oppression. It illustrates how our experiences in various spaces shape our navigation through life, emphasising the significance of having places to visit and the healing power of spending time with family and friends.
Haunted Landscape
Leather, waxed braided thread on canvas - 2022
The artwork is from Sidzumo's 2023 solo exhibition at the Absa Gallery, titled Amagoduka. In this series, he uses discarded leather offcuts to create imaginative landscapes, stitching them together with thread. This approach explores themes of migrant labor, land, and class.
Influenced by his life experiences and the everyday realities of black communities, Sidzumo uses the term "Amagoduka" to refer to individuals who live in urban areas but hail from rural backgrounds. This concept prompts reflections on belonging and the notion of home. By repurposing leather offcuts, he highlights the livelihoods of the working class. His work brings attention to the often-overlooked suffering and violence faced by black people due to a legacy of oppression. It illustrates how our experiences in various spaces shape our navigation through life, emphasising the significance of having places to visit and the healing power of spending time with family and friends.
