Colbert Mashile
Face off
Monotype
460 x 610mm
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Monotype edition of 1 , signed and dated 2012 with Artist press chop mark
Born 1972 Colbert Mashile is a South African artist known for his unique style, blending acrylic water paints and charcoal on thick watercolor paper. His work is characterized by earthy colors, precise draftsmanship, and idiosyncratic compositions featuring animal characters and human figures. Mashile’s childhood in rural Bushbuckridge, steeped in folk tales and mythology, deeply influences his art. Animals, like goats and baboons, frequently appear in his work, each carrying specific symbolic meaning. Mashile often incorporates props with personal or community significance, like a box of matches or a miner’s hat. While his artistic vision is distinct, Mashile’s art offers social and political commentary, exploring themes of rural vs. urban, Western vs. African, physical vs. spiritual, and beautiful vs. ‘ugly’. He is recognized as one of South Africa’s most unique and exciting contemporary artists.