By: The Division of Communications & Advancement
Rhodes University’s Snelihle Maphumulo, a 4th-year Bachelor of Fine Arts Sculpture student, has achieved a significant career milestone by receiving a Merit Award at the highly competitive Sasol New Signatures Art Competition. This annual competition, recognised as one of the premier platforms for emerging South African artists, provides young talent the chance to gain national exposure and be recognised in the broader art industry. Maphumulo’s achievement is a testament to her unique artistic voice and ability to tackle deeply personal themes through innovative materials.
Born in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, Snelihle is currently based in Makhanda (Grahamstown), completing her degree. Her artistic practice focuses on sculpture, using various found materials, wax, and clay to explore the positionality of women in Zulu culture, particularly the tension between tradition and modernisation. Her work is inspired by Nandipha Mntambo, a prominent South African artist known for using organic materials to examine issues of identity and transformation. Snelihle’s sculptures interrogate how women in Zulu culture are the backbone of households yet often go uncelebrated, as reflected in her series of works commenting on women's unacknowledged labour and sacrifice in ceremonial and domestic spaces.
Her award-winning work, Umnikelo, embodies these themes using sheep hides, wax plates, and beer crates. Each component holds symbolic value: the hides represent the subservience expected of women, while the plates signify the endless cycle of service in traditional Zulu ceremonies. The crates, often used as seating for men, reflect the societal structures that prioritise male authority. Together, the elements convey a powerful critique of gender roles in Zulu ceremonies, where women are expected to maintain and support the social fabric without receiving the same recognition as their male counterparts.
Robyn Munnick, a lecturer in the Fine Art Department at Rhodes University, emphasised the significance of this award for Snelihle, stating, “It is a huge achievement. The Sasol New Signatures competition is known for launching the careers of talented young artists, and for Snelihle to be recognised in this way affirms the depth and relevance of her work. We are incredibly proud of her.”
The Sasol New Signatures Art Competition is South Africa’s longest-running art competition, established in 1965. It seeks to discover emerging artists and allows them to engage with broader audiences. The competition’s panel of judges includes leading artists and curators, making it a pivotal moment in an artist’s career. Previous winners have established significant presences in both local and international art markets. The competition requires entrants to create work that responds to contemporary South African realities, focusing on pushing the boundaries of traditional art forms.
Maphumulo’s success at this competition showcases her technical skill, conceptual depth, and ability to comment on critical social issues such as gender, tradition, and cultural identity. In 2024, she began sharing her knowledge and creativity with aspiring artists, including a three-week tutoring stint earlier in the year for Maureen's first-year project. Her recognition at Sasol New Signatures places her on a promising path within the South African art landscape.
As her career progresses, it is clear that Snelihle Maphumulo is a name to watch. Her commitment to portraying the complexities of Zulu culture through innovative materials and her nuanced understanding of the challenges women face in her community make her work both impactful and resonant.
Congratulations to Snelihle Maphumulo for her extraordinary achievement at the Sasol New Signatures Art Competition, and we look forward to seeing more groundbreaking work from this rising star!