Created By
Fumani Maluleke
Acrylic on reed mat (Framed and mounted)
Curator
Luke Chapman
This artwork leans into the tension between fragility and strength. The thorny branches suggest struggle, but they also speak to survival, their forms etched with a quiet defiance. The descending white streak feels almost like a cleansing breath—a moment of clarity breaking through the chaos. Maluleke’s mastery lies in his ability to transform humble materials into profound visual narratives. Ti phuphu (Lean) invites us to pause and reflect on the landscapes we carry within us—those shaped by history, culture, and the enduring spirit of those who came before. This is art as both mirror and map, guiding us through layers of meaning and memory.
Fumani Maluleke’s Ti phuphu (Lean) is a striking visual symphony etched into the textured surface of a grass mat. It's a poetic meditation on resilience and rootedness. Maluleke’s choice to work on a grass mat—an object imbued with cultural significance—grounds the piece in a tactile reality that resonates deeply with South African heritage. The mat itself becomes a metaphor for interconnectedness, its fibers woven like the threads of memory and tradition.
Created By
Fumani Maluleke
110 x 220 cm | 43 x 87 in
2025
