Mural in New York honours artist Mahlangu
It’s an aligning moment when the universe co-creates with us
LEGENDARY Ndebele artist Esther Mahlangu, 82, has been honoured with a mural commemorating her bright, creative and bold artistic works in New York.
The mural is located in Franklin Street at the West Broadway Citi Bike station in Tribeca. The tribute was created by Imani Shanklin Roberts
The painting spans a twolane road and consists of Ndebele symbols.
In a lengthy post, Shanklin Roberts paid tribute to Mahlangu: “When I first came to New York to attend @prattinstitute in 2009 I didn’t imagine that this would be a city I would have a child in, create lasting memories in, let alone have success in my artistry in. Creating a mural in honour of an artist I’ve known all my life, in a city that isn’t welcoming to many, feels unreal.
“It feels like an aligning moment many of us have when the universe co-creates with us and is in agreement with our path.
“To you NYC, I present Xola, (Stay in Peace – A South African name I named my daughter – *Alignment*), a piece that is representative of a feminine energy force that is all encompassing, inclusive and awe-inspiring. Xola welcomes you to charge and open your divine feminine here amidst all that tries to stand against you. This is my form of resistance and protest – my expression.”
The mural is part of a tourism partnership between South African Tourism’s US office, South African Airways and bicycle-sharing platform Citi Bike, including branded bikes and bicycle docking stations.
According to a website titled “African Success”, Mahlangu was born in Middelburg, in Mpumalanga.
“She is a remarkable woman who, against all odds, travelled and exhibited overseas in 1989 in France at a time when political turmoil at home and sanctions abroad made international participation only a dream for all but a few South African artists,” according to the website.
Mahlangu recently worked with BMW in August in the production of a luxury sedan and in partnership with musician John Legend as brand ambassadors for a premium vodka, Belvedere, and for the #MakeADifference campaign.
Her graphic and colourful Ndebele designs were featured on a limited edition bottle.
South Africans took to social media to congratulate Mahlangu.
@Precious_Sibanyoni tweeted: “So uGogoEsther Mahlangu gets a boulevard in New York. Am so proud of her”.
LadyPhosha wrote: “We are truly nothing without our cultures, teach them about Africa so they find themselves.” – Additional reporting by IOL.