His work references various elements of more traditional art production techniques including printmaking, drawing and painting.

Colbert Mashile was born in Bushbuckridge in Mpumalanga, South Africa. He was born into a family of teachers and was expected to join the family trend on completion of high school.
While studying in Tshwane he became curious about the art that he saw in gallery windows on the streets of the city.
This led him to the Johannesburg Art Foundation and then to a degree in Fine Arts from the University of the Witwatersrand.

 

He said: “I come from a place that is shrouded by powerful cultural norms and customs. These customs, such as the ritual of circumcision, both myself and my wife have undergone.”

Mashile explores the psychological impact of traditional circumcision and initiation rituals on initiates, while also exploring the often problematic narratives of collective cultural determinants within these communities.
As Mashile has matured, the psychological underpinnings are still evident, but his imagery has transgressed these limitations to begin addressing issues such as home, language and the natural landscape.
A quiet individual, Mashile reflects on his use of symbols and icons.

He commented that it simply shows the ‘truth about the land and its people and thus my existence in South Africa’.

This poignant statement reflects someone who has a clear understanding of the prevalent issues in South Africa.
His work references various elements of more traditional art production techniques (printmaking, drawing and painting).
But, within this production, he isolates the personal narrative as the loudest voice within a cacophony of layers of symbology, meaning and reference.

See more of his works here.
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