Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery presents ‘Wandering In The Unknown World’ by Kimathi Mafafo, on display from April 29 to May 27.

Kimathi Mafafo was born in 1984, in South Africa. Mafafo is a multidisciplinary artist whose practise ranges from embroidery and oil painting to installation. She obtained a National Diploma in Fine Arts from the College of Cape Town, in 2007. Hailing from the semi-arid Kimberley in South Africa’s Northern Cape, Mafafo challenges long-standing stereotypes surrounding gender inequality on the African continent. She primarily focuses on honouring the Black female and abstract shapes, positioning them within frequently lush imagery, typified by verdant greenery and sumptuous drapery.

Mafafo’s solo exhibition celebrates the strange, mystical powers of nature and art. Across a vivid series of textiles and paintings, a woman emerges from a garden-like setting filled with plants and flowers. Within this fluid, magical space, the human body and nature are intertwined; blooms pattern the woman’s skin while organic forms and luscious textures swirl around her.

Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery (2012) exhibits innovative international artists, both emerging and established, with strong theoretical and aesthetic foundations. The gallery values a multicultural curatorial approach and maintains close relationships with museums and curators worldwide.

Source: Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery.