ART AT THE SOUTH AFRICAN
HIGH COMMISSION
ISLAMABAD PAKISTAN
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ART AT THE SOUTH AFRICAN
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NDEBELE ART PANELS
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The Masanabo sisters at one of their Ndebele art panels at the High Commission
(Copyright: Visual News Associates, Islamabad)
In an effort to showcase one of South Africa's most colourful cultural art traditions and to contribute towards conserving this unique form of art, the South African High Commission invited two Ndebele artists to Islamabad during the course of 2000. They decorated a series of large panels which are now on permanent display at the chancery. These are the works of Martha Masanabo (who incidentally also painted the ethnic designs on the tail wing of one of the British Airways aircraft) and her sister Martha (B). With no formal training they learnt the skills of painting from their mother and grandmothers. Both the Masanabo sisters have expressed their concern that modern life has distracted their daughters away from traditional mural paintings and into offices with telephones and pens. Their artwork at the Chancery is part of South Africa's unique cultural heritage which needs to be preserved.
OTHER WORKS OF ART
| The Mission also hosts artifacts from other cultural groups such as Zulu beads, and paintings by other South African artists. |
For more information on South African Arts and Culture visit the website of the Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology.