On October 25, 2024, Black Liquid Art will inaugurate its new venue in Rome with an exhibition dedicated to Esther Mahlangu, one of the most iconic representatives of contemporary African art. This event provides an opportunity to engage with the work of one of the most powerful voices in South African art, blending Ndebele tradition with modernity and taking her cultural message beyond the boundaries of time and space.

Esther Mahlangu, an internationally renowned painter, has participated in some of the most significant exhibitions on the global art scene, from Magiciens de la Terre to Africa Remix, and her work is featured in the world’s most important institutions, museums, and private collections. Her pieces are deeply appreciated not only internationally but also in her homeland, South Africa, where she is a prominent figure. From her hometown of Mapoch, Esther has traveled the world to share the Ndebele painting tradition, spreading the culture of her people globally.

Following tradition, Esther Mahlangu began painting at a young age under the guidance of her grandmother and mother. Originally, Ndebele paintings were created to decorate houses and were renewed during men’s rites of passage to adulthood. This painting tradition was exclusively entrusted to women, signifying the profound link between art and culture within the Ndebele community. Today, Esther Mahlangu has expanded this practice by teaching Ndebele art to young boys in her tribe as well. In an interview with Antonella Pisilli, she stated that her goal is to preserve and spread her community’s culture, creating a small army of artists capable of decorating places around the world in the Ndebele style.

Ndebele paintings are characterized by formal geometric patterns, with predominant use of triangular forms, rigorous symmetry, vibrant colors, and bold black lines on a white background. This visual language, which may seem spontaneous and intuitive, is in fact an elaborate phenomenology of form. In Mahlangu’s art, abstraction takes precedence over the figurative, moving her work towards a universal dimension akin to the pure concepts of abstraction, similar to those cherished by suprematists. The sensitivity of form becomes, in this context, the very essence of art.

Esther Mahlangu has managed to adapt these traditional geometries onto modern and unconventional surfaces: from canvases to cars, airplanes, and design objects. In 1991, she created the first African Art Car, decorating a BMW 525i with typical Ndebele motifs, an event that marked her rise on the international stage. Later, in 1997, she painted the tail fins of British Airways planes, and in 2007, she collaborated with Fiat to paint the new Fiat 500 for the Why Africa? exhibition in Turin.

The artist has also collaborated with fashion and design brands: in 2021, she worked with a Swedish brand to create a limited-edition sneaker called Eytys, and in 2022, she participated in a campaign promoted by singer John Legend, decorating a special edition bottle of Belvedere Vodka. The proceeds from this initiative were donated to the Global Fund to fight HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis. In 2023, Esther returned to collaborate with BMW, designing the interiors of the BMW 7 Series, which was presented at the Frieze Art Fair in London, with proceeds going to charity.

The exhibition is accompanied by a video interview with the artist, conducted by Antonella Pisilli, offering an intimate view of the work and life of this extraordinary ambassador of Ndebele art.

Among her most recent participations, Esther Mahlangu exhibited her works at the Venice Biennale in 2024, contributing to a special project dedicated to indigenous art and its role in the contemporary world. In 2023, she was the centerpiece of the Africa Now exhibition at MoMA, where she was celebrated as one of the most influential African artists on the global art scene. In 2024, she was the focus of a major retrospective at the Zeitz MOCAA in Cape Town, a tribute to her long career and her impact on the world of contemporary art.

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