Notes

Colbert Mashile has risen to prominence both nationally and internationally as a young South African artist who comments on cultural customs, traditions, and rituals. Born in Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga, an area steeped in cultural norms and customs, Mashile had to undergo circumcision rites as a youngster. The emotional trauma he experienced and resulting questions about the psychological impact of initiation rituals influence his art-making.

Mashile began his training at the Johannesburg Art Foundation. He then attended the University of Witwatersrand between 1996 and 2000, where he graduated with a BA in Fine Art. He received two awards for outstanding performance whilst studying for his undergraduate degree, and completed a Master of Arts in Heritage Studies in 2002. On completion of his fine arts degree, Mashile spent time working at the David Krut Print Workshop, which enabled him to experiment with printmaking and gain extensive experience from well-established printmakers.

Mashile has continued to develop his own distinctive style. His production is characterised by social and political commentary through various types of prints from monochromatic linocuts to brightly coloured monotypes and paintings using acrylics and charcoal. Mashile reflects on the mythology and folklore of his childhood by executing finely drafted images where he combines recurring animal characters and human figures. Many of the titles of Mashile’s works are in seSotho and describe the imagery present in his works.

Mashile has won numerous awards, including the ABSA Atelier Merit Prize in 2000. He has participated in a number of artist residencies and has exhibited extensively in solo and group exhibitions throughout South Africa, Europe, and the United States of America. His work is represented in numerous private and most public collections in South Africa.