Noria Mabasa
Encyclopedia
Noria Muelwa Mabasa is a Venda artist
, who works primarily in the ceramic and wood mediums. Completely self-taught, Mabasa currently resides at the Tshino village in the Vuwani area of Venda, where she runs an art school
in which she instructs her students in the art of clay-pot and sculpture
making. She began working in clay in 1974 and two years later, in 1976, she became the first Venda woman to work in wood.
Mabasa has been a full-time artist since 1976 and much of her work is inspired by dreams. Her career was sparked by a recurring dream
of an old woman, which she first had in 1965. The woman showed her how to work in clay
; her first clay figures were small and were often given away to local children. At one time, Mabasa modeled statues to stand against the walls of the courtyard of her home, a practice which was shared by other women in the region, but, then, in response to a vision, she later began to make freestanding figures of policemen and Africkaaner pioneers for sale to white South Africans and foreigners. Her earliest figures were modeled after clay and wood matano figures used in domba
initiation ceremonies. The latter style is very similar to that used by men for wooden statuary. Mabasa initially found recognition on both the national and international art scenes in the 1980s with her ceramic figures painted with enamel paint
. Her naturalistic figures are coil-built and fired in an open straw fire. Her current work combines the figurative and the functional in more earthy ways; pots often take the shape of the female figure or feature faces.
Mabasa's works deal mostly with traditional issues, particularly those pertaining to women, as well as subjects of Venda mythology and spirituality
. Her wooden sculptures The Flood (1994) and Union Buildings (1999) are among her most famous pieces.
Artist
An artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
, who works primarily in the ceramic and wood mediums. Completely self-taught, Mabasa currently resides at the Tshino village in the Vuwani area of Venda, where she runs an art school
Art school
Art school is a general term for any educational institution with a primary focus on the visual arts, especially illustration, painting, photography, sculpture, and graphic design. The term applies to institutions with elementary, secondary, post-secondary or undergraduate, or graduate or...
in which she instructs her students in the art of clay-pot and sculpture
Sculpture
Sculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard materials—typically stone such as marble—or metal, glass, or wood. Softer materials can also be used, such as clay, textiles, plastics, polymers and softer metals...
making. She began working in clay in 1974 and two years later, in 1976, she became the first Venda woman to work in wood.
Mabasa has been a full-time artist since 1976 and much of her work is inspired by dreams. Her career was sparked by a recurring dream
Recurring dream
A recurring dream is a dream which is experienced repeatedly over a long period.A person who experiences post-traumatic stress disorder may have recurring dreams about the traumatic event....
of an old woman, which she first had in 1965. The woman showed her how to work in clay
Clay
Clay is a general term including many combinations of one or more clay minerals with traces of metal oxides and organic matter. Geologic clay deposits are mostly composed of phyllosilicate minerals containing variable amounts of water trapped in the mineral structure.- Formation :Clay minerals...
; her first clay figures were small and were often given away to local children. At one time, Mabasa modeled statues to stand against the walls of the courtyard of her home, a practice which was shared by other women in the region, but, then, in response to a vision, she later began to make freestanding figures of policemen and Africkaaner pioneers for sale to white South Africans and foreigners. Her earliest figures were modeled after clay and wood matano figures used in domba
Domba
The Domba or Dom are an ethnic or social group, or groups, scattered across India. They are usually segregated from the mainstream community as outcastes.The Domba are sometimes also called "Chandala". Both terms also came to be used in the sense of "outcaste" in general...
initiation ceremonies. The latter style is very similar to that used by men for wooden statuary. Mabasa initially found recognition on both the national and international art scenes in the 1980s with her ceramic figures painted with enamel paint
Enamel paint
Enamel paint is paint that air dries to a hard, usually glossy, finish, used for coating surfaces that are outdoors or otherwise subject to hard wear or variations in temperature; it should not be confused with decorated objects in "painted enamel", where vitreous enamel is applied with brushes and...
. Her naturalistic figures are coil-built and fired in an open straw fire. Her current work combines the figurative and the functional in more earthy ways; pots often take the shape of the female figure or feature faces.
Mabasa's works deal mostly with traditional issues, particularly those pertaining to women, as well as subjects of Venda mythology and spirituality
Spirituality
Spirituality can refer to an ultimate or an alleged immaterial reality; an inner path enabling a person to discover the essence of his/her being; or the “deepest values and meanings by which people live.” Spiritual practices, including meditation, prayer and contemplation, are intended to develop...
. Her wooden sculptures The Flood (1994) and Union Buildings (1999) are among her most famous pieces.