Eastern Cape Echoes
Timed Online Auction, 2 - 15 July 2025
Eastern Cape Echoes: Selected Works from Tsitsikamma to Lusikisiki
About the SessionEastern Cape Echoes: Selected Works from Tsitsikamma to Lusikisiki brings together a selection of artworks by artists who either originate from, live in, or draw inspiration from the Eastern Cape – a region where storytelling takes root in fertile ground. Included in the sale is a diverse offering of paintings, drawings, sculptures, and prints, inspired by the dramatic coastline, lush forests, and rich biodiversity that define the Eastern Cape. The sale features five remarkable carvings by Julius Mfethe, depicting country scenes with human figures and animals. Born in Port St Johns, Mfethe sourced his own wood and developed his tools to produce these meticulously crafted sculptures. Coming from a long line of talented craftsmen and women – his father and two brothers were specialist grass weavers – Mfethe imbued his works with rich storytelling and craftsmanship. Other highlights include Market on a Waterway by Walter Battiss, a colourful oil painting inspired by his travels to Central Africa, and Figures above a Waterfall, a work that places emphasis on space and proportion, reflecting Battiss’ engagement with graphic design language and elements. Another key highlight is George Pemba’s rendering of the Arthur Wellington Church in New Brighton. Executed in an acrylic medium, the work exemplifies Pemba’s masterful use of colour. A large contingent of colourful works by Brian Bradshaw, Jennifer Crooks, Michael Hallier, Walter Meyer, Penny Siopis, Simon Stone and Obie Oberholzer bring further vibrancy to this annual offering. The sale concludes with quirky ceramic works by Calitzdorp artist-potter, Hylton Nel, who studied at Rhodes University and later taught ceramics, ceramic history, and drawing at Port Elizabeth Technikon.
About this Item
signed on the reverse
Notes
The present lot is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity, dated 2014 and inscribed with the artist's name, the title and medium.
Bambi’s Tata Tata (Red) is a vibrant tribute to Nelson Mandela, rendered in her signature stencil and mixed media style on metal. Depicting the beloved statesman mid-gesture with fist raised and smile wide, the work captures the enduring warmth and power of his presence. The composition is dominated by Mandela’s iconic red shirt and the repeated phrase “TATA TATA,” a nod both to his affectionate Xhosa title (“father”) and to a sense of rhythmic public memory.
Created in 2014, the year after Mandela’s passing, the piece resonates deeply with the spirit of Mandela Day, commemorated each year on 18 July. The annual observance calls on people around the world to take action and inspire change, values echoed in Bambi’s street-informed visual language and the celebratory, activist energy of this work. Tata Tata (Red) invites reflection not only on Mandela’s legacy, but on how it continues to animate everyday acts of courage, unity, and joy.
Provenance
Acquired directly from Leonard Villa, former manager and public representative of Bambi.
Private Collection.