LUDUMO MAQABUKA

Born in Umtata, Eastern Cape, Ludumo Maqabuka now resides and works as a full-time urban contemporary artist in Johannesburg. He obtained a National Diploma in Fine Art at Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, in 2007 and in 2009 exhibited his first solo collection, +27, at Design Cafe in Pretoria. He has participated in many group exhibitions to date.

Maqabuka’s urban contemporary art highlights the intersectionality created at the juncture where contemporary street art meets daily life in urban Africa. His work is thought-provoking as it interprets South African society with its complexities within a framework of popular culture. Maqabuka invites you to explore current themes through a liberated visual language expressed in the boldness of Pop-art style images juxtaposed against surfaces of detailed inscribed mark-making. His personally evolved spontaneous processed surfaces create a unique graffiti type of abstract expressionism.

Ludumo’s art intends to conscientize audiences while celebrating his culture and heritage. He dreams of travelling and exhibiting his work worldwide as an artistic ambassador for South Africa.

"My work is influenced by the socio-political landscape of South Africa. I am fascinated by the contrasts in my past rural and present urban lifestyles.

City life exposed me to different cultures and grafitti art of the American Hip Hop culture has made a lasting impression on me. Graffiti tagging has always intrigued me but fear of arrest has prevented me from public mark-making and caused me to channel my passion onto canvas instead.

My work is a personal interpretation of South African society with its many complexities and the effects that urban sub-cultures have on township life.

I try to merge textures of decaying buildings, worn graffiti and urban figures, to impart my personality into my work. My creative intention is to conscientious societal norms within the framework of popular culture."