The Mdantsane Landscapes

These are the landscapes of Mdantsane. And if you are far away in another country, if you have never heard of Mdantsane, if you do not have the chance to ever come here - you can still see them as real as they are in this beautiful painting.  

Phumezo Starliner Mpayipheli paints the Mdantsane Landscapes and because of him, even you who are far away, can see them. I love the title of his series of paintings " The Mdantsane Landscapes " very much because if you are driving through Mdantsane, beautiful and unique landscapes are unfolding in front of your eyes with colorful painted houses built on top of soft rolling hills that stretch far. Mdantsane is a very big township and we agree with the inhabitants who say there are living more than one million people here. There are fields and there is still space.

Phumezo is another person through whom we can see and can learn to see. 

A while ago we have visited an African tire repair business in Mdantsane that carries the name See Me Now. See Me Now has become symbolic for everything we have done since then. It has become the essence of our book. What has started as a work of fine art photography and story writing, simply called a coffee table book, has become a spiritual path because most of the people we have met and we have talked to wanted us to see them as they are.

We did catch Phumezo a little bit by surprise in his classroom in the Vukuhambe School for disabled children in NU 9. 

But that is what we prefer to do. Since we have started working on this book we have very seldom announced our visit. We go to a place and just talk to the people. By working in that manner we have been able to portray the people being in their natural and beautiful state, as they are, and we have been able to shoot the amazing photos that you like so much. 

Phumezo is a teacher for fine and visual arts at the Vukuhambe school. He is a witty cartoonist sketching the South African society and he is a great artist as well painting the Mdantsane Landscapes. I am not to shy to make this statement, because I have grown up with art and have been fed art by my parents since I was a baby. So yes he is a great artist.

I have not asked him but I feel that his work is inspired by his faith and by the love for the place where he lives and which he calls home.

I personally know that it is your faith and your belief that can take you far. Talent and working with what you have received from the one and only is essential but your faith will give you the strength to keep on walking on your path and to stand out of the crowd.

He has exhibited his art already at the Grahamstown Art Festival.

It is very challenging, he says, to work with children who are disabled or who have learning disabilities.

This is one of Phumezo's own cartoons taking a satirical edge on one of South Africa biggest curses - cash lenders offering money to the poor. And booze.

And in the end we also got his smile. Thank you Phumezo for your time!