Ezekiel Madiba's Priceless Art Collection up for Sale

South Africa Wed 01-09-2010

Ezekiel Madiba's Priceless Art Collection up for Sale
By Moira Rowan

Recently I have been asked to broker a deal to sell a rare collection of Ezekiel Madiba’s artwork. The owner of the collection wants to sell it to fund his fathers' retirement. The collection consists of 21 artworks and was acquired by the owner during 1988 - 1991, from the artist.

Python Dance by Ezekiel Madiba

^{Python Dance | Woodcut print | 1984}

The dilemma I have here is twofold, how does one put a price on these artworks which in some ways are priceless, because they were created during the struggle years of apartheid in South Africa, and some of his artwork is found today in a collection of art that forms the heritage of the country. Ideally these artworks should stay in South Africa, and be enjoyed by the people.

From a personal point of view I came across Ezekiel’s work by chance in 1982, I am by nature a collector of art, and I stumbled across a shop in an art gallery in Pretoria that was selling original art, the lady that ran the shop didn’t think that his work was of much value and tried to talk me out of buying it, that day I bought five artworks which I still treasure today.

Years later I visited South Africa and wanted to buy some more art, but the shop had gone, and I was told Ezekiel had died, through the Ifa Lethu foundation I found out he was very much alive and they arrange for me to meet him and his charming wife.

Getting back to the collection, I am left with the thought that the best option is to find a philanthropist that would buy the collection, enjoy it for awhile and then donate it back to a foundation in South Africa that would preserve it and allow the public to appreciate it knowing that the artist, was creating art during a very turbulent time in South Africa.

Artist biography

Ezekiel Madiba: Born 1948 –

Ezekiel Madiba also known as Boycie, attended the Eastwood Public School in Tshwane, Pretoria, South Africa, his family has Ndebele roots and his father originally comes from Polowane, then known as Pietersburg to Eastwood, where Madiba was born in 1948. The family later moved to Walmansthal where he attended the Lethabong Secondary school and obtained his junior cetificate, standard 10.

Sangoma by Ezekiel Madiba

^{Sangoma | Woodcut print | 1989}

Madiba attended art classes at school and became interested in wood carving and drawing. After school he moved to Ga-Rankuwa and started the first of many jobs in Tshwane, (Pretoria), One of the jobs was in a curtain factory where he later worked in their design studio. Here he learnt about textile designing, photographic processes and silk-screen. He later moved to a semi-precious stone cutting business where he did some stone carving in the studio.

In 1971 Madiba decided to devote himself to his art full time. He moved to Mobopane, a township to the north of Tshwane(Pretoria), where he still lives with his family. As an artist he did not initially receive much support as many older people regarded being an artist a strange, non-paying occupation.

Besides a few classes at school, Boycie is mainly self taught. He became friendly with the artists Raymond Andrews who is well known for his woodblock prints.

Boycie learnt the woodcut technique from him, which has become his main meduim, from 1971 he was one of a group of artists who met regularly and who participated in group exhibitions organized by the late Geoff Mpakati, a well known patron of the artist. The group included Lubisi, Phoshoko And Nkoana. Many of the exhibitions were held at foreign embassies in Pretoria and many of the artworks were bought by Diplomats.

From the beginning the artist was mainly interested in depicting the people of his environment and township life of black people in South Africa. He captures this with feeling and often humorous warmth.

The Christain faith, traditional customs and the mood of the people are depicted mainly in simple black and white. The titles of his woodblock prints reveal his interests, for example The Musicians, The Blues, The Crucifix, Mother and Child and Isangoma.

The scenes often have a central figure or two, or three strong figures surrounded by decorative shapes. He sometimes uses distortion to emphasize cetain emotion. Madiba has a strong sense of composition and the distribution of shapes and black and white planes is always well balanced.

^{The blues | Woodcut Print | 1989}

Click here to view Ezekiel Madiba's portfolio.

For more information on the artwork contact Moira Rowan at rowanmoira@hotmail.com

Posted By: Maggie Otieno

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Your Comments

Michael : Interesting article. I've come to know Madiba relatively well over the last 4yrs I've lived in SA and what a wonderful human being. A gentle and caring man, he truly is a gentleman in every sense. I have acquired over 16 works (at the last count!)from him over the last few years and it is always a pleasure to catch up with him for a coffee, a chat and a view of his latest creations. Interestingly, I prefer his actual wood panels to prints.