Dumisani Mabaso

Dumisani Mabaso (1955 - 2013) was a painter, printmaker and musician. Mabaso was involved with printmaking for over three decades in South Africa and established The Sguzu Printmaker's Workshop in Johannesburg. Mabaso's father, a commercial printer, introduced his son to the world of printing presses, paper and ink at a young age. Mabaso took a turn away from the commercial world of printing and began exploring the possibilities of original prints during his time studying at Rorke's Drift.

Mark Attwood, who collaborated with Mabaso on these prints writes “I have been lucky enough to work with Dumi a number of times over a period of thirty years, first in Broederstroom and later in Newtown and more recently at my studio The Artists’ Press in Mpumalanga. Dumi’s father like mine was a commercial printer and Dumi is the only artist that I have collaborated with who has shared a childhood supported by printing."

Mabaso died in September 2013 after being ill for many years. We miss Dumisani Mabaso’s gentle presence in the studio, his fine drawing abilities and sense of colour.

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Shrines

Dumisani Mabaso’s final lithographs poignantly focus on shrines. The earthy colours that he used reflect the warm colours of African soil and tie in with the conceptual content of the work. Shrines are how we remember and celebrate people, gods and places. From the memorials on the sides of the roads where accident victims are commemorated to elaborate sculptures at specific sites, the need to place objects or record special sites is a universal one.

A barrier of spiky wooden posts with decorated clay vessel in middle of the frame with sun and clouds at the top.

Title: Livestock Shrine
Medium: Seven colour lithograph
Paper size: 76.5 x 57 cm
Image size: 69 x 50.5 cm
Edition size: 30
Price: R 6 300 (excl.VAT)

In Livestock Shrine Mabaso pays homage to cattle and the central role that they play in rural African life. Cattle are a sign of wealth and well being, they are central to many customs and rituals. Bride price or lobola is often made using cattle and cows are slaughtered for weddings and funerals. The beauty of Nguni cattle has become synonymous with the beauty of rural landscapes. In this print, Mabaso has made a protective fence or screen out of wooden stakes and leather. Traditionally the fence would protect the cattle from predators at night and the fenced in area or kraal also became an important site for burial and ritual. Mabaso refers to cattle via the quills in the pot and the horns on the body of the pot. The images in the print become a visual offering to cattle. Reference is also made to talismans and protective charms which help to ensure the health and abundance of the herd and their owners. The sun image runs through all of the prints and for Mabaso is a symbol of life.

Bottom of print three round objects with porcupine quills, middle shows tasselled leather garment, sun with cloud lines at top.

Title: Queen Modjadji's Shrine
Medium: Six colour lithograph
Paper size: 76.5 x 57cm
Image size: 69 x 50.5 cm
Edition size: 30
Price: R 6 300 (excl.VAT)

Queen Modjadji’s Shrine celebrates South Africa’s rain queen. The Modjadji or Rain Queen is the hereditary queen of Balobedu, a people of the Limpopo Province of South Africa. The succession to the position of Rain Queen is matrilineal, meaning that the Queen's eldest daughter is the heir and that males are not entitled to inherit the throne at all. The Rain Queen is believed to have special powers, including the ability to control the clouds and rainfall. Mabaso has created an apron for the queen, cool blues in some of the tassels echoing rain falling across a parched African landscape. This image also recalls rock paintings found in Southern Africa that depict good rain with soft gentle life bringing rains which are associated with female energy in southern Africa. The lines in front of the sun recall mists rising from fertile valleys, a common sight after the rains have drenched the subtropical mountains surrounding the Queen’s homestead.

Bottom of the lithograph depicts a spiky screen, Zulu lyre instrument in middle, top with red sun and amulet

Title: Queen Nandi's Shrine
Medium: Eight colour lithograph
Paper size: 76.5 x 57 cm
Image size: 69 x 50.5 cm
Edition size: 30
Price: R 6 300 (excl.VAT)

Queen Nandi’s Shrine honours King Shaka’s mother. Shaka was the leader who united and founded the Zulu nation with his tactical brilliance and harsh discipline. Queen Nandi was ostracized by Shaka’s fathers’ tribe, his father was a chief and Shaka was conceived out of wedlock. She was a fiercely independent woman and was very protective of her son. She remained close to himand was by his side as he became one of the most powerful leaders of his time. The harp in the center of the print recalls lyricism and calm sounds, attributes that are associated with maternal care. The claw and quill image over the sun is a talisman for protection.

Spiky screen drawn at bottom of the print with cow skull in the middle and yellow sun on the top with cloud strips.

Title: Shaka's Shrine
Medium: Six colour lithograph
Paper size: 76.5 x 57 cm
Image size: 69 x 50.5 cm
Edition size: 30
Price: R 6 300 (excl.VAT)

In Shaka’s Shrine Mabaso remembers the great Zulu leader but there is also a bleakness to the print. The black lines in front of the sun and soft radiating lines surrounding the sun contribute an air of melancholy. This is added to with the image of a cattle skull. When Shaka's mother, Nandi, died the Zulu leader is said to have lost his mind. In his grief, Shaka had hundreds of Zulus killed, and outlawed the planting of crops and the use of milk for a year. All women found pregnant were murdered along with their husbands. He sent his army on an extensive military operation, and when they returned exhausted he immediately ordered them out again. It was the last straw for the lesser Zulu chiefs, on September 22, 1828, his half-brothers murdered Shaka. Dingane, one of the brothers, then became king of the Zulus.

When your number comes in...

Dumisani Mabaso began working on the When your number comes in… series of prints in the winter of 2004. He became very ill and was unable to finish the prints that year. In 2006, back in fine health, Mabaso returned to the studio and the collaboration was completed and the prints editioned. Mabaso has pushed the mixing of colours in lithography almost to its limit in this series of prints and shows his fine understanding of the printing process and his ability to manipulate colour. Using the national lottery, Lotto, as his starting point Mabaso has created a series of prints that ask more questions than they give answers. Phrases that come to mind when looking at these prints are: “your number is up”, “un/lucky number”, “counting on winning/losing”, “hitting the jackpot”, “dead reckoning”, “a thousand to one”, “counting on something/someone”, “count me in/out”, and “out for the count”.

The numbers like those in the Lotto are random and uncontrolled and yet they fit into a graphic order, supported by either a large one, two or three (seen in the background of the print). These are philosophical questions but there is also the social side to the Lotto and how spending money on taking a chance has become a major drain on the finances of the poor in South Africa. Mabaso, who was no stranger to hard times, understood the allure of suddenly having all your financial problems solved when your number comes in.