Reuben Ndwandwe Memorial
Reuben Ndwandwe (1943 to 2007) Memorial exhibition
The Schreiner GallerySeptember to 18 November 2007
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This exhibition of basketry is a celebration of Reuben Ndwandwe's work and legacy and is organised in collaboration with Gilbert Torlage from Provincial Museum Services.
Reuben Ndwandwe (1943 to 2007) was a well known basket weaver, living in the Hlabisa district, Zululand. He produced his own unique designs and dyed his own materials for weaving. In 2004 he was the African Art Centre's 'Artist of the Year'.
Each item of basketry Reuben produced was unique. His designs came from his own imagination. Reuben was also greatly influenced by his mentor and spiritual guide, Isaiah Shembe.
Reuben Ndwandwe's basketry has a foundation in the traditional Zulu basketry. These baskets were so tightly woven that they were waterproof. Ndwandwe's baskets have trancended utilitarian purposes and are widely regarded as art objects.
Reuben was represented in the recent Jabulisa 2006: the art and craft of KwaZulu-Natal exhibition (cat. 127) with a basket from the collection of the Vukani Museum, Eshowe. This basket displayed Reuben's 'signature' of edging the lids of baskets with a cross and bar pattern.
Reuben was involved in running an ongoing weaving training course with a number of women in his area. He died unexpectedly in June this year.
Umbukiso oyisikhumbuzo ngemisebenzi ka Reuben Ndwandwe (1943-2007)
Lombukiso uveza iqhaza lika Reuben Ndwandwe emisebenzini wezandla.Lombukiso uhlanganiswe ngokubambisana no Gilbert Torlage wezokugcinwa kwamaGugu kulesisifundazwe (KZN Provincial Museum Services). U-Reuben Ndwandwe (1943-2007),wakwa Hlabisa wazakhela ugazi ngomsebenzi wakhe wezandla nangendlela abewenza ngayo okuhlanganisa nendlela afaka ngayo imibala kwezakhe izimbenge.
Ngonyaka ka-2004 wakonyeliswa ngokuba "Iciko lonyaka"� abase African Art Centre. Umsebenzi ngamunye Ka-Reuben Ndwandwe uhlukile komunye,ngisho nemihlobiso yakhe azicabangela yona ayefani. UReuben Ndwandwe uthi ekwenzeni imisebenzi yakhe wayethola ugqozi kwizimfundiso zebandla lakwa Shembe ayekhonza kulona.Obhasikidi bakhe bagxile osikweni lwesiZulu lokwenza ubhasikidi ongaputshuki amanzi/utshawala.Kepha laba sebe dlule kulelozinga njengoba sebesetshenziselwa ukuhlobisa kunophatha amanzi/utshwala.Kuhlelo lombukiso obizwa nge Jabulisa ka2006 ubukhona omunye walabo bhasikidi ogciniwe njengamanje yindawo yamagugu iVukani,eShowe.
Kuwona sibona kahle okwenza obhasikidi bakhe bahluke eningini; yisidikiselo sakhe esihlotshiswa ngesiphambano nomgonqo. U-Reuben ubambe elikhulu iqhaza ekufundiseni umphakathi wangakubo ekwenzeni umsebenzi wezandla.Usishiye ngokukhulu ukuzuma kulonyaka ngoJuni.