adminBruce Chimani, Sunday Leisure Correspondent
BORN in a polygamous family, with a rich sense of community, an exposure to traditional beliefs and an apostolic influence from his mother, Zimbabwean artist Solomon Mahlathini is an artist whose influences make him the inimitable craftsman he is. The 25-year-old man, who moved to the USA in 2011 and is studying arts at a private college in Virginia. Mahlathini has a good international fan base with more than 8 800 likes on Facebook, and most of his fans are from Zimbabwe, India, and other parts of Asia.
Sunday Leisure correspondent, Bruce Chimani (BC) had a chat with the visual artist from his base in Virginia and excerpts of the interview are below.
BC: Tell us more about yourself. Who is Solomon Mahlathini?
SM: I’m the first born in a family of four children; I have three younger siblings, a brother and two sisters; Stanford, Simakuhle, and Sithandokuhle. We grew up in the small mining city of Kwekwe, where we attended private schools from kindergarten to high school. I’ve always had a passion for art and won many awards at school for art. I was also a top student in most if not all of my classes. Both my parents;
Benjamin and Salome Mahlathini are business people, and are very supportive of my dreams. They have always taught me the importance of having good communication with God, and following one’s passion regardless of what the world says.
BC: How did you find yourself in arts?
SM: My dad owns a farm, which at one point was a game reserve. I used to love seeing different animals, the wonderful flowers, the lake, the rich red soils, the burnt orange and peach sunsets. We also used to visit our communal homeland a lot; Chiundura, and there I loved the sandy, beach-like soils, the clear night skies and the stars, the indigenous vegetation. I also experienced Xhosa and Sotho cultures as my mother is a combination of both, and my father’s family is from a diverse cultural background.
I used to like seeing people dress up in colourful regalia, the head dresses, the music, the ambiance, it was beautiful. Same goes for my mom who grew up in the apostolic faith. I loved the white dressing, and the singing, the wooden staff, all that to me was art, and from time to time I borrow from that and that is how art was introduced and defined to me.
BC: What have you been up to in your visual artistry lately?
SM: I’ve been working on a new collection. It’s very eclectic but much of the inspiration is derived from my memories of home, and the beauty of nature around the world. I’ll be doing an exhibition here in the US in a couple of months.
I’ve done five shows in; Tarzana, California; Hollywood, California, St Petersberg Florida, Georgetown Washington DC, Downtown Washington DC, one of which was an auction, where I donated a piece to charity.
BC: How is it being in the arts industry over there in the US yet you are Zimbabwean?
SM: The industry here has been very receptive of my work. They love my unique ethnic flair, and also the universal appeal it has which they can relate to. And being an artist; I’m not only an ambassador for my country, continent, but also the world. As long as I’m being true to my craft and depicting everyday life I can be accepted anywhere regardless of my nationality.
BC: What is the purpose of your art?
SM: My art is about life. The joy, the pain, the struggles, our universal belief in a divine being, love, war, history and so forth. I try to depict everyday universal experiences. My art is also a celebration of God’s grace and beauty. I’m a self taught artist, and I believe my talent is a gift bestowed upon me to help people appreciate the glory of God and His creation, I borrow everything from nature – fauna, flora, the human race, the galaxy etc.
BC: Any challenges in your mission?
SM: Not yet, and I hope none anytime soon.
BC: Why your particular art form? What else do you do?
SM: I believe art is all about feeling. Art is supposed to stimulate as many of your senses as it can, sight, touch, smell etc. So I try to make my pieces to be mixed media and full of textures. I put sand, burlap, cork, plastic, scented oil, oil paint, acrylic, graphite, anything that I feel will help to evoke whatever feeling I’m aiming for.
I’m doing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film and Television degree and I’m majoring in post-production editing. I’m also looking to launch my brand, online store, and opening a gallery-cum-art store which will showcase mainly my artwork, and a few selected featured artists from home and other parts of the world.
BC: Where do you see yourself in the next five years?
SM: In the next five years I see myself with a budding gallery, and a wider clientele base. Hopefully I get to see myself there and achieve my dreams.
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