PHILLEMON HLUNGWANI

(b. 1975 Giyani, Limpopo, South Africa)

Phillemon Hlungwani is recognised as one of the most accomplished contemporary artists now working in South Africa. Known predominantly for his large-scale charcoal drawings depicting scenes from rural life as well as formal and informal settlements, his work is rooted deeply in a sense of community and the traditional values that endure there. Many of his recent drawings include proverbs in his first language – xiTsonga – as ­titles. These proverbs are often difficult to translate into English but they communicate an essential moral idea – showing how members of a particular community are either sustaining or betraying the values of the people living there. The people are inseparable from their environment, although his more recent images have introduced colour into the clothing of his protagonists to help them stand out in all their vibrancy and humanity. The scenes he depicts are usually full of motion and life – the characters bursting with thoughts, opinions and yearnings, which are communicated further through the arcs and lines that weave the different parts of each drawing together. Everything is connected. There is no distinction between the internal or the external, the animate or inanimate, the material or the spiritual. As a boy, Hlungwani used to herd goats and cattle and look after chickens – and this relationship with the animal world is often present in his work. Trees were also a source of shade and food – both for animals and people – as well as providing places for community debates, ceremonies and prayer. Sometimes, as in the work titled Vutlhari bya lava kulu ka hina (The Wisdom of the Old People), trees embody and stand for the human – carrying in their roots and leaves and fruit all that has passed beneath them. Hlungwani is suggesting throughout his work that people who live in the simplest places with few possessions can still lead good, dignified lives and remain happy. They may have places to go and things to do, but they know who they are – where they have come from and where they are going.

Phillemon Hlungwani was born in Thomo Village, Giyani, in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. He attended Thomo Primary School and Hanyani Thomo High School, where he developed his skills under the guidance of his art teacher, motivator and friend Muxe Moses Mthombeni – and Queen Mtileni. Having attained an A for Art in Matric, Hlungwani studied at the Johannesburg Art Foundation before studying printmaking under the mentorship of Kim Berman, the late Nhlahla Xaba and Osiah Masukameng at the Artist Proof Studio. Hlungwani later completed a teacher’s training course in Art at the WITS School of Art. He has since been based at the Artist Proof Studio, where he has facilitated classes, been a unit manager for papermaking and was the coordinator for community outreach and special projects at the studio. He has also worked in a range of advisory and mentoring projects. Sponsored by the prestigious Ampersand Foundation Fellowship, Hlungwani went on an extensive study tour of printmaking studios in the United States. In addition to his drawing and graphic work, Hlungwani has completed and facilitated many wall murals including the mural at the Standard Bank Art Gallery (for the Picasso in Africa exhibition) and the mural for Bell Dewar and Hall. He has also been commissioned by the JDA (Johannesburg Development Agencies), MTN and the South African Governmental offices. Awards include winning the King Korn competition (2000 and 2001) and the SABC Radio Station Munghana Lonene FM Log Design Award (2003). He was also one of the finalists for the Absa Gallery competition in 2001, 2002 and 2009.

SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2025     Va Hi Tshembise Tiko Ra Ntswamba Ni Vulombe (They Promised Us Land Flowing With

            Milk And Honey), Everard Read, Franschhoek, South Africa

2024     Mitsheketo yale makaya (Stories from a place I call home), Everard Read, Johannesburg

2023     Ku tirha hi matimba swa vuyerisa / Hard work pays off, Everard Read, London, UK

2021     A Wu Xi Tivi Lexi Nga Mbilwini Ya Mani, Everard Read, Franschhoek, South Africa

2019     Ntsako Wa Xibelani, Everard Read, Johannesburg, South Africa

2018     Nwansati wa matimba a nga heli mongo, Everard Read, Cape Town, South Africa

2017     Rirhandzu Ra Manana / The Love of Women, Everard Read, London, UK

2016     From Giyani to Alexandra, Everard Read, Johannesburg & Gallery at Grande Provence, Franschhoek, South Africa

            Online Christmas Collection, Everard Read Gallery, London, UK

2014     Mi Kondzo Ya Tinghawi/In the Footsteps of Heroes, Klein Karoo National Arts Festival, Oudtshoorn, South Africa
            Qunu Drawings, Everard Read, Johannesburg, South Africa

2013     Cullinan Drawings, sponsored by Petra Diamonds plc, John Martin Gallery, London, UK

2011     Everard Read, Johannesburg, South Africa
            Knysna Fine Art, South Africa

2009     The Irma Stern Museum in Cape Town, South Africa
            Tshungulo wuyisiwa e mahlweni/ The Healing Process, Everard Read, Johannesburg, South Africa

2008     Xitsonga I ndzuti wa Xigaza/The Tsonga is the Shadow of Xigaza, ABSA Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa

2006     The Gallery Premises, Braamfontein, Johannesburg, South Africa

2000     First solo, Soweto, South Africa

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2025     Poetry of the Earth, Knysna Fine Art, Knysna, South Africa

2024     INNER SANCTUM, Everard Read, Johannesburg, South Africa

            FNB Johannesburg Art Fair, South Africa

2023     What I Feel When I Think About The Cosmos, Everard Read, Franschhoek, South Africa

            Natural Habitat, 16 on Lerotholi, Langa, Cape Town, South Africa

2021     Spring Show, Everard Read, Johannesburg, South Africa

            Offering, Everard Read, Franschhoek, South Africa

            Oasis, 25th anniversary exhibition, Everard Read, Cape Town, South Africa

2020    The Portrait Show, Everard Read, Johannesburg, South Africa

            Imago, Everard Read, Franschhoek, South Africa

            Staring Straight to the Future, online exhibition, Everard Read, South Africa & UK

            TINY, Everard Read, Johannesburg, South Africa

            Odyssey, Everard Read, Johannesburg, South Africa

2019     Southern Aspect: A Group Exhibition, Everard Read, London, UK 

2017     Reality Check, Everard Read, Cape Town, South Africa

            Winter Collection: Everard Read, Cape Town, South Africa

2016     Opening exhibition, Everard Read, London, UK

2015     1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair, London, UK

2014     FNB Johannesburg Art Fair, South Africa

2013     Art 13 London, UK

2012     The 4th Edition of India Modern and Contemporary Art Fair, India
            The 21st anniversary celebration of Artist Proof Studio exhibition, Johannesburg Art Gallery, South Africa
            FNB Johannesburg Art Fair, South Africa

2011     FNB Johannesburg Art Fair, South Africa
            Horse, Everard Read, Johannesburg, South Africa

2010     A View from the South, Everard Read, Johannesburg, South Africa

SELECTED COLLECTIONS

Ascot Diamonds

Bell, Dewar and Hall, Johannesburg

Bidvest

BLP Merchandising Solutions

Brait,

Centurion Hotel, Pretoria

Ellerman House, Cape Town

Irma Stern Museum (UCT) , Cape Town

Johannesburg Development Agency

Karoo Hotel outside Cape Town

Medscheme Holdings

MTN print exchange

Nando’s

Nedbank, Johannesburg

Norman Borlaug Institute for International Culture, Texas

Raphael Suites and Michelangelo Towers, Sandton

Rand Merchant Bank Corporate Collection

Sasol Collection

South African Reserve Bank

Standard Bank Art Gallery, Johannesburg

UNISA Art Collection

Vodacom