Notes

This low slung stretched image of a reclining woman with stylised bands around her neck alludes to a ceremonially dressed Mapogga woman, her neck characteristically decorated with brass rings. The title Mapoggo refers to a distinctive Ndebele speaking nation situated north of Pretoria, known for their dramatic beaded dress, decorated architecture and cultural innovation.

The reclining figure as subject for Kumalo appears more dominantly after 1967 when Kumalo changes his representative gallery from Egon Guenther's Gallery to Goodman Gallery. Kumalo had worked closely with the dealer Egon Guenther in close proximity to his collection of classical African art. These African works and Guenther's interest in German Expressionism had a strong influence on Kumalo’s sculptures produced in the early 1960s. His wide range of works is characterised by powerful vertical and crouching madalla (old man) figures, satirical heads and predatory animals with highly worked striated and pock-hammered surfaces.

In the contrasting work, Mapoggo, the smooth dark bronze surface and stylised forms of the reclining figure make direct reference to the work of Henry Moore who Goodman Gallery represented in South Africa and exhibited on occasions. Kumalo was exposed to Moore's work here as well as in his wider looking at world art, and both were to make a significant impression on his works at the time.

Karel Nel