Ukuncikelela (to hold on/endure)

Tandabantu Nathaniel Jongikhaya MATOLA (Gqeberha)

Ukuncikelela (to hold on/endure)

Underglaze, clay and dishcloths

5-Part: (5) 195 cm x 30 cm

Biography

Tandabantu Nathaniel Jongikhaya Matola was born in Zandukwana Village in the Libode Township in the Eastern Cape in 1996. He started to hone his skills as an artist from a young age by making pencil and pen sketches. In 2021, he enrolled in the Fine Arts programme at Walter Sisulu University. Matola’s work is inspired by Simphiwe Mbunyuza, a fellow potter from the same university. Although Matola has an interest in other fine art mediums, such as painting and drawing, ceramics holds a special place in his heart.

Synopsis

Black South African communities, especially in impoverished rural villages, are forced to keep domestic items even longer than they wish. This lifelong forced frugality is imposed on these communities primarily due to limited finances, resulting in untoward practices to overcome resource constraints. For instance, keeping items like dishcloths until they are distressed, not changing toothbrushes over an extended period, and even keeping worn-out clothing items. The idea for this artwork came when the artist noticed that the dishcloth at his home was in such a bad state. As an artist, this prompted Matola to collect dishcloths from his village in exchange for new ones. Clay and underglaze are used to depict the homes Matola visited using the dishcloth he obtained from that home. The weaving of clay and cloths symbolises ukuncikelela, which means to hold on in isiXhosa. The PVA glue is used to hold the clothes in shape while it also reinforces the ukungcola (dirtiness) from the overuse of the cloth.