Striking your right nerve ART: The Artworks

Striking your right nerve ART: The Artworks: Mr. Death to you (Wax, oil on Canvas)  Face to face (Wax, oil on canvas)   Decaying II (Wax,oil, cow skin, canvas...

The Intent behind the Artwork

Living in a Funeral Culture

The writer Zakes Mda in his book “Ways of Dying” discusses how death brings people together and how it creates opportunities for one to reflect on life. The paintings speak about life lived and life passing simultaneously. The funeral processions are painted in bold colours rather than dark and gloomy tones. I use the brightness to numb or dumb down the seriousness of death. By contrast, the facial expressions of figures in the paintings show the emotional heaviness that comes with death.

We know where the body goes, however we speculate about the destination of the soul.

My “Mr Death” character appears in many of the pictures as if he is sent to take the next person. Yet instead of death being in charge of who goes next, he is in fact, a servant killing time participating in the processions whilst waiting for an instruction.

We know the date of our birth, but two enigmas remain: the date of one’s death and who or what makes that decision. 

Ntobeko Mjijwa

The Artworks

Mr. Death to you

(Wax, oil on Canvas)

 Face to face

(Wax, oil on canvas)

 Decaying II

(Wax,oil, cow skin, canvas on board)

Decaying I

(Wax, cotton jersey on canvas)

 For sale

(Oil, candle smoke on board)

Waiting patiently

(Oil, candle smoke on board)

 Death comes suddenly

(Oil, wax, suede fabric on canvas)

 Sound of death

(Oil on Board)

Easter holiday coffins I

(Oil, wax on canvas)

 Beautiful Eulogy

(Oil, wax on canvas)

Easter Holiday II

(Oil, wax, pen on board)

 The Mourners

(Oil on canvas)

 Death in the room

(Oil on board)

Are you covered?

(Acrylic, corduroy on canvas)

Death comes suddenly

(pre-painting on paper)

Profile of Ntobeko Mjijwa

2012

-  Interviewed by Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) Marketing and Corporate Relations, for their monthly Newsletter Talk @NMMU

-  Interviewed by Fortnight Trumpet Newspaper about my final year work at NMMU

-  Exhibited in a final year graduation exhibition at NMMU

-  Exhibited at Absa L'Atelier Art Competition at the Art Department (NMMU)

-  Exhibited at Sasol New Signatures Art Competition at the Art Department (NMMU)

-  Painted cartoon characters in a Children’s ward in Mercantile Hospital

-  Exhibited with Music Art and Design Society in an exhibition, titled “Boxes to Mozambique” at NMMU.  At the Art department 

2011

-  Designed Logo’s for Take Take The Movement and while we wait movement both Hip-hop movements

-   Performed at Campus Harvest Southern Africa held at NMMU

-   One of the artists painted the mural for Route 67 at ArtEC gallery

-   Worked ArtEC hanging paintings for the opening of the Athenaeum

Art gallery

-   Worked for Artworks for youth organization, teaching drawing at Joe      Slovo primary school

- Exhibited my artwork through Basement project at French alliance

- Guest preforming artist at the 1^st years concert at NMMU

            -  Designed a logo for Snyklip Community Trust

2010

-  Designed a poster for disability awareness month at NMMU

-  Wrote an educational rap song and made a music video for Student

Counseling, Career Guidance and Development

-   Booked to perform by Azalea events three times in a row

-   Performed at Campus Harvest Southern Africa in Magaliesberg

2009

-   Released own album entitled Hip hop and Theology, produced by                                                                                                              E.L.Y   Productions and Messiah Productions at NMMU music studios

-       Received an award for attending a three-day training workshop and leading an Academic Orientation group

        -    One of the artist help to paint the Raga Bolo mural is Zwide Stadium, sponsored by SABC and Smirnoff

        -    Painted a mural for Helenvale Disability awareness week, working with NMMU Disability Unit

2007

-       Completed a learner ship NQF level 4 with Arts-and-Teaching-Initiatives

2005

-       Matriculated at Ithembelihle Comprehensive high school

Reference List

Mr. David Jones

Phone:	27 41 5043494/9931
Email:	David.Jones@nmmu.ac.za

Mr. Johnny Hauser

Phone:                0842936812

Email:                 johnnymahala@gmail.com

Mr. John V. Lombardo

Phone:           0822079318

Email:               johnlombardo1@gmail.com

Mr. Bamanye Ngxale

Phone:             0783159027

Email:                 bamanyelethungxale@yahoo.com

Mr. Segi Moodly

Phone:               0825885671

                                    0217125244