South African glass artist Malebogo Molokane’s is layered with emotion in a very literal way. But, her creations are also fused with a beautiful message of resilience:
Johannesburg, South Africa (21 February 2024) — South Africa’s glass artist Malebogo Molokane is embarking on her first official tour across her home country where her unique artistic edge will blow the minds of anyone who knows how to look beyond the surface.
The glass artist and Tshwane University of Technology alumni and part-time lecturer who was crowned the distinguished recipient of the 2022 Absa L’Atelier Gerard Sekoto Award got the chance to share her creations with the art capital, Paris, after her big win. There at the Cité Internationale des Arts, she challenged herself as the only glass artist among her peers. Unwavering and determined, the doubts she faced in her delicate craft culminated in something much bigger—her first solo exhibition.
Malebogo is now presenting her exhibition thanks to the French Institute of South Africa and the South African National Association for the Visual Arts (SANAVA), where her body of work has inspired visitors through both the message of the art and the craft behind it.
‘A Re Tshamekeng’ (“Let’s Play” in Setswane) explores the intricacies of emotional gestures and facial expressions through layered glass artworks. For the glass artist, the fragility of her medium is a reflection of the delicate balance of her journey and the subtle power of human expressions.
Moments of tension, misery, excitement and confusion—life is a game that ‘A Re Tshamekeng’ brings to the forefront in a most unique way.
But life is also nothing if not full of fun at the best of times, which is why her work also focuses on fun board and indigenous games using a variety of glass techniques, from blowing to beading and sand casting. The results are mind-blowing layered glass creations that blend journeys, fun, expressions and the human experience.
Says the artist:
“Glass art is a process and a bundle of emotions from studio to display. It is also a fragile process, mirroring the delicate nature of human emotions. Each time I engage with glass, it becomes a different form of self-expression. I can experiment with it in various ways, even when it cuts through me—yes there’s pain but also fulfilment. The comparison between the fragility of glass and life is essentially the same, with moments of added frustration both in daily challenges and the delicate process of working with glass.”
The message, then, is that of resilience—just like her journey in creating the pieces. There will be pain, laughter, triumphs and challenges, but when you keep going and take a moment to reflect on all you’ve actually created, you’ll realise life is a game well worth giving your best shot.
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