Aviwe Plaatjie, Cape Town based artist, painter and printmaker, has been drawn to the arts since childhood.
His clear talent as a child was nurtured by his mother and her employer who took him to part-time art classes. In 2010, Aviwe joined Good Hope Arts Studios as a self-taught painter and later attended a mentorship programme at VANSA for three months where he was introduced to linocut print making.
An avid commentator on his community through his identity based paintings, his characters, friends, neighbours and family are staged onto an often aspirational and imaginary background. Subjects might appear ‘dressed up’ but these often simple garments appear sumptuous in the artist’s expertly malleable hands. His use of colour, texture and luxuriant attention to detail incorporating abstract backgrounds and patterns attend to his ability to weave a strong visual narrative.
‘Makwande’ delivers a series of bold paintings, often escapist, but they allow the artist to portray his subjects and himself outside their normal environment without diminishing their self-worth.
New works will also be seen at African Galleries Now on ARTSY in June as well as at 1-54 London in October.
A digital catalogue will be available from Wednesday 5th May
The fight against COVID-19 continues – please wear a mask when visiting us; we will ensure that all safety protocols are in place on our side.
WHAT: Aviwe Plaatjie – ‘MAKWANDE’
WHEN: Wednesday 5th May 2021 (4pm – 7pm) until 25th June 2021
WHERE: EBONY/CURATED, 67 Loop Street, Cape Town 8001
INFO: T +27 (0)21 424 9985 | E info@ebonycurated.com | Visit
PHOTO: ‘Music’ Oil on Canvas, 2021 150cm x 120cm
