It always feels amazing to learn about an unsung artists, especially the ones that produce abstract works. While scrolling through our mails today, we bumped into a newsletter from Latitudes that promoted an artist of interest called Babalwa Tom.
Upon clicking her profile to see who this amazing expressionist was, it was then decided that such talent deserves to be named this week’s artist of the week!
Anyways, Babalwa Tom is an expressionist contemporary artist born in Queenstown, South Africa before moving to Cape Town where she studied Cinematography at AFDA (African Film Drama Academy). She reportedly spent two years in the Tsitsikamma forest, where she had the blessed opportunity to rediscover her true being.
Speaking to Art Connect, Babalwa describes her work as a spiritual connection between mind and body. She has to connect with something before putting it down on paper or canvas.
”The artwork I create is connected in an ethereal language on what interests me, through investigation and research of our human and all matter existence with our Earth. With knowledge gained, forms are created to tell a story through aura and energy and in a way a space where the audience can be in a theraputic space with the artwork pieces. I would say my ultimate creations is to generate peacefull processes within our consciousness and innerself, by transforming whatever space I am or an audience is in. A form of divination you could say, as the form and symbols are my translation of spirit language.”
We further scrolled down Latitudes and realized that Babalwa has had quite a run in terms of exhibitions.
EXHIBITIONS:
Year: 2019 – Venue: Museum of African Design (MOAD)
Exhibition about: The title refers to the ways in which these two individuals have worked thus far in their careers: each has managed to teach, learn and grow as an artist and exhibit outside of the often challenging, competitive and somewhat exclusionary South African art scene. The exhibition is twofold: to show the creative womxn scene and to give voice to those who are constantly pushed under by toxic masculinity. This includes the private and public conception of what the womxn must do and be. Using the term womxn is deliberate as this is how these individuals identify. It also points to the notion of being ‘other’ and working outside of conventional structures. The exhibition aims to demonstrate that there is an alternative art scene, occupied by talented womxn artists, who are working on the fringe to achieve their goals and who are challenging the norms in our society.
Babalwa Tom Exhibited: a series of digital prints and a short film titled Womxn Water. In her work as filmmaker, Babalwa explores the ways in which forms are visualised and conceived of. For the film Womxn Water, featuring the performance artist Marion Versitile, we delve into the water (literally – the film is shot underwater) to witness how the body moves. In her signature kaleidoscopic style, and a with music by Dumama and Kechou, the film explores the feminine and masculine of the artist and the connection between the self and water. The digital prints from the series NaturaJuxa explores the
connection between living plants and our place within the natural ecosystem. The work is a comment on our dependency and connection to the natural environment.
Year: 2018 – Venue: GUS Gallery and Muizenberg Festival (Cape Town, South Africa)
Exhibition about: Site Specific Installation of Stage & Costume Design, showcasing projection of liquid light visual art onto textile stage installation and costume along with a performance installation. Expressing a story of possibilities of so many worlds I walk into.
Year: 2018 – Venue: Unknown Unioin , Radisson Red Hotel, Homecoming Museum (Cape Town, South Africa)
Exhibition about: Fiercepop Pop Up exhibition called WOMXN, graphic arts and photography exhibition presents work from artists on the ongoing struggle for recognition and freedom of Womxn as well as a celebration of women in their lives who have inspired them to create new works.
Babalwa Tom Exhibited: Photography and Digital Design Prints, a series called Naturajuxa. The healing power of art. NaturaJuxa explores the connection between living plants and our place within the natural ecosystem. The work is a comment on our dependency and connection to the natural environment.
Year: 2017 – Venue: BLOCH, Com&Com
Exhibition about: A Swiss custom called Bloch, This travelling exhibition and site specific installation to develop a new Bloch custom at each station base it went to in South Africa with their local traditions. In the process, the original custom and its meaning changed, entering into a dialogue with foreign cultures and people, mix with new elements, and being reinterpreted. At every stage of the journey, something completely new will emerged. This art event was accompanied by discussions (talks, symposia) and other cultural and social events (exhibits, festivals, music, theater), as well as individual artworks, short films, and a website.
Babalwa Tom Exhibited: Site Specific Installation of Fire performance and Costume design. Fire dancing in white designed costume made out of chiffon and tape. To imprint the rebirthing of dreams, between delicate gentle movements, combined with shaking off tight sticky patterns and burning through into the birthing of a new self.
Main Image: Latitudes Online
