Inspiration through dreams
Noria Mabasa with one of her sculpturesArtist Noria Mabasa – or “Muelelwa” – expresses her dreams through her sculptures.
In Venda history, only men were considered to be sculptors but this has not held Muelelwa back in the slightest. She happily sculpts wood and works on clay and she receives her inspiration from dreams.
Her Venda name of Muelelwa means “remember”.
She sits in the shade of a big tree in her yard and beats and sculpts wood to the rhythm of her dreams. All her concentration is on the creation of this one piece.
Her daughter, Joyce Mabasa, warns all visitors that in moments like these, she should not be disturbed.
Noria was born in Tsigalo, Venda, and is self-taught.
Today she is a 70-year-old mother grandmother she lives and works as a full-time artist in Vuwani, Venda.
“As a young woman she received messages from ancestors but could not understand them,” said Joyce.
“She had unusual dreams in which she saw the ancestors. These were a sign that she needed to fulfil her role in the community as an artist.”
“She had unusual dreams in which she saw the ancestors. These were a sign that she needed to fulfil her role in the community as an artist.”
Her works deal with traditional issues, especially those pertaining to women. Around her yard are wooden sculptures of women carrying babies, working and going on in everyday life.
The images reflect her surroundings and sometimes outside experiences.
“After the floods in Mozambique, she did a work inspired by a woman who gave birth in a tree,” said Joyce. Her scultpures also include personalities from South African life, such as cabinet ministers, soldiers, and businessmen.
Noria’s sculptures are in galleries and museums around the country and overseas. Private collectors also have them. She runs an art school in her yard where she teaches others the skill of clay-pot and sculpture making.
Muelelwa’s letting her art imitate life.
Published in Daily Sun May 2007
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