Faces of Shared Humanity

Exhibition by Siyabonga Mlambi

In his deeply evocative debut solo exhibition, Khanda Art, Siyabonga Mlambi presents an enchanting body of work that pulses with heart, harmony, and heritage.

On view until July 3rd, this landmark showcase marks the coming of age of a bold new voice in contemporary South African art.

Rooted in the rich cultural soil of Bizana in the Eastern Cape and nurtured through years of experimentation, Mlambi’s work transcends the visual to explore themes of love, loss, identity, unity, and the fragile bonds that hold humanity together.

He draws from these roots to create a visual language he calls “Khanda-Art Synthetic Cubism.” His mixed-media works on stretched canvas are layered, textured expressions that transcend mere technique.

Ellis House based Mlambi cleverly uses pulp paper, charcoal, acrylic, and water paint to form a spiritual mesh of interconnectedness, a tribute to his late mother, and a reflection on the universe’s shared humanity.

The exhibition features over 16 paintings and a few small sculptures fashioned from discarded materials, an eco-conscious nod to upcycling that aligns with his themes of renewal and unity.

As a recycling artist, he gives new life to his off-cuts, and discarded materials that could have impacted on the course of nature.

Geometrical faces — sometimes fragmented, sometimes contoured — emerge throughout the works, symbolising a spectrum of human experience.

Despite conflict or contradiction, these figures co-exist, challenging viewers to consider peace, tolerance, and love as necessities in humanity’s shared existence.