Local ceramicist flies flag at art residency

KRAAIFONTEIN ceramicist Simphiwe Mbunyuza has described his recent trip to France as “a dream come true”.

He was among a group of international artists selected to participate in the Artists in Residence Vallauris programme.

Born in the Eastern Cape, Mbunyuza returned to South Africa earlier this week after about a month in France.

He was the only South African, along with a group of five artists from the US and Mexico, selected to produce a body of work that was exhibited at the end of the programme.

“I’ve been applying and rejected in many artist residencies’ programmes abroad.

“But that didn’t stop me from persisting and moving on, applying without showing any signs of hopelessness.”

He said the Department of Arts and Culture played a vital role and contributed financially towards his trip.

“The journey was good in terms of exposure within the art field. Meeting up with new faces and artists was one of the most exciting moments, sharing artistic views, challenges, new ideas and experiences.”

The Walter Sisulu University graduate, who is in the process of applying to study a Masters in Fine Arts (MFA) degree at Oklahoma University, US, said his work was well received by a number of people in the art field.