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Award-winning visual artist Bambo Sibiya is presenting his own interpretation on the events of this year through an exhibition called Slow Down Tiger that is on at Everard Read Gallery in Rosebank, Johannesburg.
Sibiya, who has exhibited his works internationally and in SA, feels that the world needs to pause and reflect because there is so much that happened this year.
Using charcoal and acrylic, Sibiya looks at different issues like global warming, unemployment, the global fear of contracting Covid-19, violence towards homosexuals and women, and the extensive political control.
The 34-year-old further reflects on current affairs, ranging from the confusing positivity and negativity that emerged from this year's unique lockdown circumstances while touching on both the humanity and barbarity that people witnessed and how the information overload put people on an emotional roller coaster.
“In South Africa we were confused by Covid-19 before the lockdown started and while still trying to understand what was happening, [the] US came together in fighting a good cause that [is] Black Lives Matter. It was the fight time, seeing so many people coming together to fight for something this positive,” Sibiya said.
“There was an issue of gender-based violence. While our sisters were being kidnapped, somewhere in the world people were protesting against global warming.”
Sibiya, who is a proud father and husband,, could not overlook the issue of absent fathers that is prevalent. He believes the issue needs to be looked at with a different eye.
In his art piece titled 2020 Got Me So Confused, Sibiya explained: “At some point I felt like a prisoner at my own home. I did not know what was happening. Police, who were supposed to protect us, were assaulting people for no reason. It was a very confusing situation.”
Sibiya admits that the lockdown made it hard for him to do his work as people were restricted from moving around.
Sibiya studied print making at Artist Proof Studio in Johannesburg and has exhibited in Abu Dhabi, the Middle East, the Seychelles, Botswana, London and SA among other countries. Slow Down Tiger is on until October 4.
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