Chulumanco

“There’s nothing quite as valuable as family for those lucky enough to have one”.
“It’s the stick-together family that wins the joys of earth,
That hears the sweetest music and that finds the finest mirth;
It’s the old home roof that shelters all the charm that life can give;
There you find the gladdest play-ground, there the happiest spot to live”.
by Edgar Guest

Eclectica Contemporary is excited to present Mpho Feni’s first solo exhibition, Chulumanco. The exhibition title, derived from Xhosa, signifies happiness, an emotion sensitively rendered in Feni’s paintings. Highlighting this core emotion, we are drawn into the emotive presence of the artwork. The artist explores the merit of joyful emotions by portraying figures in close-knit formation. As emotions are an integral part of our experience, the artist’s paintings resonate with many, as Feni echoes relatable encounters in our own family gatherings. Feni gives the viewer a glimpse into his personal life, making his work introspective, authentic and intuitive. Growing up in a tight-knit family that places a great value on love, unity and support has inspired Feni to pay homage to these customs and values. His paintings capture celebratory events such as exhibitions, graduations, accomplishments, traditional events and birthdays, where family members and friends are always together, smiling, and joyous. Being born post-Apartheid in South Africa, where inequalities have not been addressed, Feni presents an abundance of hope. Chulumanco provides a platform for cultural exchange reinforced through storytelling, family networks and insistent celebrations. Feni choses to embrace the new South with positivity and care. His work invites us to pause, breathe, and pay homage to celebratory moments and memories, while activating new codes with which to rethink our everyday ways of living, sharing and archiving memories.