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Online Auction Guest Curator: Nandipha Mntambo

15 Feb 2021

Mntambo was born in Swaziland, now eSwatini, and lives and works in Johannesburg, South Africa. Having exhibited internationally and locally, she is a stand-out name in the art world, having been nominated for the AIMIA | AGO Photography Prize 2014, as well as being selected as a Civitella Ranieri Fellow in 2013. Mntambo’s work is recognisable for its use of contorted and moulded cow hide and skin and her photography dealing with the human body, its link to animals as well as other subtle undertones of femininity.

In this curated selection of artworks from the February Online-Only Auction by Mnatmbo (Session 1), there is a variety of historical and contemporary names, and a particularly wide range of themes and materials. The awkward Cat Figure (LS 9301) (Lot 2) by Lucas Sithole harks to her interest in animals, and the particular uniqueness of this piece calls forth the strange, mangled shapes of her cow skin forms. Douglas Portway’s Abstract (Lot 4), has soft, bruised tones, similar to some of her paintings and two-dimensional works. A unique historical object is the Rorke’s Drift Two-handled Vessel (Lot 7), which speaks to Mntambo’s keen sense of form and shape, again including references in the piece to contorted, strange animal figures.

Mntambo’s selection of works is not only a homage to her deep-seated interests, but also represents the uniqueness of an individual’s curatorial capacity when presented with a range of up to 700 lots to choose from. To have a selection of works demonstrating the thinkings of an artist like Mntambo is a great privilege and provides an insight into her nuanced and highly sought-after abilities as an artist.

Auction details:

Modern, Post-war and Contemporary Art, Decorative Arts, Jewellery and Fine Wine
15-22 February 2021

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www.straussartonline.co.za