Sinethemba Xola (XOLA S.)
Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
Sinethemba Xola at work at home in Cape Town, South Africa
Sinethemba Xola at work on iMbokotho lll, 2020. Material recycled white stoneware clay, firing method is Smoke fired with blue acrylic underglaze. 48 cm H x 33 cm W x 80 cm diameter
These are indeed unprecedented times, and Mother Nature has us wearing face-masks all the time, defying all human illusions of having control over everything.
The COVID-19 lockdown could not have come at a worse time: I had just relocated from another city in search of better opportunities, only to find out I wasn’t even going to be able to touch clay. I would be turning 40 years old soon in June (as if that meant anything significant) and now I wouldn’t be making any of my prepared speeches at this milestone—and with a midlife crisis approaching very soon!
I had been working on my new artwork submission for the annual Ceramics South Africa Western Cape Regional Exhibition at home, with clay I took from iMiso Ceramics Studio—the company I’ve been working for since I moved to Cape Town.
I appealed to my grandmother, my mother and my wife for strength, guidance and wisdom. As a result, my artwork was selected for First Prize and named New Signature award winner at the 2020 CSA Western Cape Regional Exhibition.
I have realized how fortunate and privileged we are as creators, having the opportunity to create under undesirable conditions. If I was not working tirelessly with clay, I’d be face down doing my drawings entitled Origins because I’m obsessed with my own origins. However, that’s another topic—for a different QI project.
During the lockdown, SINETHEMBA XOLA created IMBOKOTHO, A suite of three forms celebrating women’s strength, because women are solid as a rock—but need protection from CoronaVirus.
Sinethemba Xola, iMbokotho I, II and III, 2020. Smoke fired stoneware with acrylic underglaze colors. Yellow iMbokotho: 65 cm diameter. Red iMbokotho 75 cm diameter. Blue iMbokotho: 80 cm diameter. New Signature award winner at the 2020 CSA Western Cape Regional Exhibition. Photo: Rust n Verde Art Gallery.
Sinethemba Xola, iMbokotho III, 2020. Unfired recycled white stoneware. Photo: Nkuthazo Alexis Dyalvane.
Sinethemba Xola, iMbokotho I, 2020. Unfired recycled white stoneware. Photo: Nkuthazo Alexis Dyalvane.
Sinethemba Xola, iMbokotho I, II, and III, 2020; side view of all three vessels. Unfired recycled white stoneware. Photo: Nkuthazo Alexis Dyalvane.