Colbert Mashile

Colbert Mashile (b. 1972) examines how traditional circumcision and initiation rituals affect initiates psychologically. Mashile uses art to heal past trauma, developing a distinctive style with acrylic water paints and charcoal on thick paper. His works feature earthy colors, precise draftsmanship, and unique compositions combining animals and human figures in equal exchanges, often with unexpected props that invite dialogue. Raised near Bushbuckridge and immersed in folk tales, he frequently depicts goats and baboons, each carrying distinct symbolic significance.

 

 

In 2000 Colbert Mashile, who was born in 1972 in Limpopo, completed his BA Fine Arts at University of the Witwatersrand. Thereafter, he experimented with printmaking and by 2003 was collaborating frequently with the printers at the David Krut Workshop. After spending time in Johannesburg, he left the city, disliking the townships, to set up a home and studio in a village in Bushbuckridge. Coming from a Sotho family, Mashile went through the traditional initiation ritual at age ten. Like many boys of his age from the Mapulana clan, Mashile found the experience traumatic. As an adult he realised that expressing his emotions through art was a powerful way of healing his past trauma. Images of phallic towers, cowrie shells, zoomorphic and anthropomorphic forms, huddled crowds, whispers and ominous secrecy resonate through the work. Mashile’s use of colour and his particular style of abstract representation can be seen as a form of contemporary surrealism that is local in its nuances. His subject matter has moved away from dark shrouded, hooded forms and his use of bright colour shows a dramatic shift from his earlier ominous works. He has continued to create portraits, which he does not see as bearing any resemblance to specific individuals, but rather as forms that assume an appearance of local characters. He makes use of symbols in the flat patterned background to contextualise his portraits and make reference to West African textiles.

News

The Print Club launched in collaboration with Mesh Club at the Keyes art Mile
Nov. 29, 2018

MESH CLUB is extremely proud to partner with David Krut Projects to bring together a collection dedicated exclusively to printed works of art...

Tags: Keyes Art Mile, Mesh Club, On Paper, Printmaking, Prints
Master Printer Jillian Ross on DKW and artist Colbert Mashile
Aug. 11, 2018

In this episode, the David Krut Workshop's Master Printer Jillian Ross speaks about her experience of joining the workshop and...

Tags: Master printer, Printmaking
David Krut ARCHIVE
Apr. 6, 2017

DAVID KRUT PROJECTS ARCHIVE Opening the Archives Opening the Archives gives the public the opportunity to view and buy works...

Tags: David Krut Archive
Johannesburg in Print | Exhibition at Carnegie Hall for UBUNTU South African Festival – NYC
Sep. 20, 2014

David Krut Projects & Carnegie Hall present: JOHANNESBURG IN PRINT Exhibition runs October 8 through November 5, 2014 in Carnegie Hall's...

Tags: arts, carnegie hall, Festival, live performance, Music, New York City, South Africa, ubuntu
Colbert Mashile: New Paintings made in Hazyview, Mpumalanga
Dec. 9, 2011

Colbert Mashile’s art-making process is what he describes as randomly capturing what comes to him first, without thinking too much...

Tags: Colbert Mashile
Colbert Mashile working on new cat monotypes
Dec. 8, 2011

  http://davidkrutprojects.com/artists/colbert-mashile      
Untitled: DKW Summer Show (5 November 2011 – 21 January 2012)
Nov. 1, 2011

The David Krut Projects Summer Show for 2011 features artworks from a wide selection of artists, most of whom have...

Tags: David Krut Projects, Exhibition Post
David Krut Projects at Joburg Art Fair 2011
Sep. 17, 2011

David Krut Projects will be showcasing work by Bruce Backhouse, Gail Behrmann, Deborah Bell, Bronwen Findlay, Claire Gavronsky, Joseph Hart, Stephen...

Tags: First Cut, Johannesburg Art Fair 2011
Colbert Mashile’s Horse Prints
Sep. 12, 2011

Colbert Mashile has been creating editions at David Krut Print Workshop (DKW) since 2002, in which time he has produced...

Tags: Arts on Main, Colbert Mashile, David Krut Print Workshop, Everard Read, The Horse
IMPRINT: Selected Editions and Works on Paper, Installation Images
Jul. 20, 2011

David Krut Projects is pleased to present IMPRINT, a selection of editions and works on paper by local and international...

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