SKETCHING LIFE: Ntsikelelo Mzibomvu and the fine art of real-time drawing
The Joburg artist blends visual expressionism with musical alignment or theatrical performance.
Joburg artist Ntsikelelo Mzibomvu combines visual expressionism with musical alignment or theatrical performance in his signature storytelling through real-time drawing. This performance art manifests when he sketches the unfolding event on a blank canvas, capturing the essence of the scene as it happens. His signature method takes boldness and a touch of madness, as he begins with a blank canvas and produces a finished artwork by the end of the day.
Mzibomvu's art takes place in public events, such as the inaugural Main Street Sundays in Joburg, where he set up his easel and canvas next to Radio 702's outside broadcast hub. His work, which blends charcoal and graphite, symbolises the people attending the event as dancing musical notes, creating an abstract expressionist piece of Main Street. The artist relies on his fearless and liberating process to turn his fears into cultural expression.
Growing up in Springs, Mzibomvu learned drawing from his uncle, an art teacher, but is largely self-taught. His confidence in his art grew during the Covid pandemic, as he had time to refine his skills and explore new places for his art. Now based in Ellis House in New Doornfontein, Mzibomvu's work addresses fatherhood, modern masculinity, and personal transformation after battling depression. His art, writing, and wearable art collection support his social impact projects.
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