Emhlabeni is a solo exhibition by Themba Khumalo
Emhlabeni reflects the social, political and spiritual landscape in current South Africa, and the understanding of land as identity. Using current news headlines as an entry into some of the injustice the landscape observes ‘Residents kill red ant’ - Daily Sun April 11, 2019. Emhlabeni which loosely translates to earth in English, carries far greater meaning in Isizulu, these meaning are made visible through the nuances expressed in the drawings, painting with coffee to mimic the earth and soil tones and use of vernacular titles. With the attempt to saturate the land, the artist looks at umhlaba as a piece of land measured through the size of the drawings. These renditions portray pieces of land as witnesses to the dispossession, illegal occupation as protest, loss of hope and yet through Baba Wethu Osezulwini (prayer) the artist depicts land as refugee, a space faith and healing.
