We closed Isithunzi: “The Exploration of Physical Conditions and the Spirit” with deep gratitude and reflection.

Presented by Lindokuhle Khumalo and David ‘Blakc’ Madlabane, the evocative exhibition emerged from a collaborative residency grounded in dialogue, shared beliefs, and layered cultural perspectives.

The title ‘Isithunzi’ often translated as “shadow” in English carries complex and fluid meanings in Nguni languages, encompassing notions of dignity, spirit, presence, and social standing. Rather than viewing shadows as absence, the exhibition reclaimed them as sacred repositories holding memory, lineage, resistance, and transformation.

The works served as sites where personal and cultural shadows were uncovered and honored, rendering the invisible resonance of land, identity, and spirit tangible. Positioning the shadow as both a sacred twin and a keeper of fragmented memory, the exhibition traversed deconstructed landscapes that mirrored psychological and spiritual terrains.

Through surreal aesthetics and material experimentation, Isithunzi became a conduit between the physical and the spiritual—urging viewers to confront silences, embrace interconnectedness, and move toward collective healing.