Visual artist Thabang Lehobye finally nailed the Thami Mnyele Art Award competition after trying his luck for years to win the gong.
Since the national competition was established 33 years ago, Lehobye has entered it many times, threw in a sponge in the process and plumb the depths. When he entered this time, the multitalented artist made sure that he captures the imagination of judges Sizwe Khoza, Molemo Moiloa Gapare, Colbert Mashile, Gordon Froud and Aysha Waja with bits and pieces of his childhood life.
The portrayal of his childhood life in his animation video Fragments of Memories was so honest that judges had no choice but to give to him the gong. Lehobye was pronounced the winner of the competition last week, taking home R100,000.
Over 460 entries were received for the national competition, and 100 artworks were selected to be part of the virtual exhibition.
Speaking to Sowetan, Lehobye said his recent art work got the attention of the judges because it touched on relatable things in life. Through a two-minute animation video, the artists presented a collection of memories of his childhood and as a teenager.
“I am still pinching myself in disbelief that I have won. I am excited about winning such a prestigious award. I have been entering this competition for years [without success]. It is incredibly amazing that this time I hit the right note.
“I appreciate even the prize money because it is going to assist me to buy some of the equipment I work with. The piece that won me the award talks about memory, which speaks to the aspect of time linked to my past and childhood.”
In defining the piece, Lehobye, who was born in Soweto and grew up between Everton in the Vaal Triangle and Orange Farm, said: “The content of the subject as I unveil it, there is this boy who is just standing there watching everything happening about him. There is also a woman standing with a big bag on her head. Things are moving about her but she is standing still.”
With Fragments of Memories, Lehobye really tapped into his painful memories of his childhood having experienced some of it as he grew up. Some of the painful memories that he revisited while working on the piece was how he was called dyslexic at school because he was too slow.
“These memories are part of my experience. They are bits and pieces of memories which some of them are broken but they are part of my life journey. I spent all my childhood in different places, the township experience dominates in the piece.
“I have beautiful memories of childhood of how we turn bricks into cars as young boys. I still remember how at school they called me dyslexic and how it made me feel. I guess growing in those different environments have a huge influence in how you say.”
The 35-year-old, who experiments with various techniques like acrylics and charcoal, has chosen to tell the story through animation video because he is dealing with issue of memory and time.
“Memory is based on time, and video medium gives you the opportunity to tell the story in time. It captures that moment when things move fast and it allows you to articulate that idea properly,” Lehobye says.
“The way the video is presented, it captures the essence of what I wanted to share. Video is captivative by nature, whenever you are watching it you always want to see more.”
Lehobye studied printmaking at Artists Proof Studio and started to work as a visual artist back in 2003.
Since then he has exhibited in different art spaces locally and internationally. He has a national diploma in fine arts from University of Johannesburg and has studied Multimedia at Vega.
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