Biography

Nompumelelo Tshabalala b.1984 Soweto, Dlamini began her studies in Fine Art at the South West Gauteng College in 2004/5. She holds a Professional Printmaking Certificate from Artist Proof Studio (2006-2008). During her third year at Artist Proof Studio she was awarded a bursary by Linda Givon, founder of Goodman Gallery, to further her studies at the University of Johannesburg, achieving a Diploma in 2011 and an Honours degree in Visual Art in 2012. She received a Cassirer Welz Award from the Bag Factory studios where she was awarded a residency which saw her achieve her first solo exhibition at Circa gallery in 2017. Her work forms part of a collection at The William Humphrey Museum and the Smithsonian Museum. Tshabalala served at Artist Proof Studio as an Art teacher in 2013-2016. She currently teaches at the National School of the Arts, Johannesburg and works as an independent artist

Artist Statement

My art practice is a way of exploring ideas and concepts that focus on identity, memory, displacement and healing. My work can be viewed as a journey of self discovery where introspective moments interact with the idea of being. I embark on locating threads that connect me to unfamiliar roots as a way of negotiating my existence. In my work I question and depict a yearning for a sense of belonging, what home has been to me and who I have come to be. I employ notions of culture and spirituality as triggers to a nostalgic memory. I explore objects, textile and spaces that evokes a certain resonance in locating and creating a sense of belonging. I depict nuanced ideas of otherness by way of being detached from my cultural and historical background as I embark in an imaginative process of making. This journey is as a continuous experience and a way of negotiating my own identity.

My art reflects the unseen narratives within the home, the importance of memory, and the intersection of identity and culture.