ART: A Closer Look at “Nyoka”, Rich Mnisi’s First Solo Exhibition of Collectible Furniture.
“This started with a nightmare.
My mother dreamt of a snake on her back. When she turned to look at it, she saw an intense green creature, frightening and fluid, dangerous and beautiful. My journey started here, and led me to Congo’s Bushongo mythology and its creator god, Bumba, the god of vomit. He vomited up the sun, Earth, moon and stars, and then the rest of the natural world from that acidic pain and discomfort. Unlike most of our world’s origin stories, this one proposes that the beauty and life of our world could be purged instead of birthed.”- Rich Mnisi
Exploring duality is a strong theme in this collection; particularly, in distilling beauty from darkness. As the artist states: “To live is to embrace this duality. To accept that joy and tragedy, light and darkness, dreams and nightmares are connected, orbiting and defining each other”.
Vutlhari (Wisdom)
Bronze, resin, lighting components
225 x 225 x 218 cm
Nwa’Ntlhohe (Pure Beauty)
Karakul wool, mohair
500 x 375 x 30 cm
Nyoka (Snake)
Bronze, glass beads
137 x 51 x 124 cm
The collection comprises various seating, a console, chandelier, rug and other pieces. To bring this unique exploration of shape and fluidity to life, the objects are created from materials like bronze, wool, resin and glass.
“Nyoka” is on view at Southern Guild in Cape Town until February 2022.
