Zamani Makhanya b1959 Lamontville Kwazulu-Natal studied for his BAFA Hons. and in 1999, established a theoretical practise Third Eye Vision. Its purpose was to focus interest on the importance of being African and exploring historical and verbal recollection of previous generational memory.
In his own practise, Makhanya explores African verbal history through a language of symbolism. He has developed an artistic process of building layered colour surfaces into which these colour layers are etched.
His purpose is to seek a visual expression and in so doing, record the tales of Zulu cosmology. Through this imagery, he gives poetic form to African cultural ideas, spirituality, and aesthetics. References the spiritual importance attached in Zulu culture to cattle. They are perceived to be not only symbols of wealth but also are the direct link for communication with the ancestral world.
Here different masks suggesting the rich and varied cultural history of Africa is celebrated in the map of Africa and a woman crouches in the shoulder of the bull’s horns suggesting life giving qualities to the Zulu Nation. (Makhanya features in 10 Years 100 Artists ed Bell Roberts 2004)
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