MBALI TSHABALALA

In the exhibition "Emergence of the Godmother," Mbali Tshabalala invites us to witness a profound evolution in her artistic practice. Moving beyond her earlier explorations of cultural and feminine identity, Tshabalala now embraces the complexities of urban existence while introducing the archetype of the godmother—a figure who embodies ancestral wisdom, protection, and spiritual guidance within the chaos of Johannesburg's concrete landscape.

Set against the backdrop of a city often reduced to a single word—chaos—Tshabalala's work acts as both witness and intervention. The godmother emerges as a necessary guardian, navigating the psychological dissonance experienced by African descendants in Eurocentric urban spaces. Through self-portraiture and symbolic figuration, Tshabalala positions herself not as a passive observer but as an active participant in the creation of meaning and sanctuary.

The exhibition reveals Tshabalala's commitment to unveiling the multidimensional realities that exist within urban life. Her shifting visual language—alternating between rigid concrete backdrops, fluid oceanic blues, and vibrant color amalgamations—mirrors the volatility of city existence while simultaneously pointing to the spiritual realms that persist despite modernization. Religious symbolism, particularly the recurring motif of the cross, functions as a bridge between visible and invisible worlds, suggesting pathways toward healing and wholeness.

"Emergence of the Godmother" can be understood as a sacred negotiation between fragmentation and integration. Each canvas serves as a portal where personal memory, communal experience, and ancestral knowledge converge. Through this body of work, Tshabalala challenges us to look beyond the surface chaos of urban environments to recognize the resilience, dignity, and spiritual fortitude of those who maintain their cultural integrity despite displacement and alienation.

As an extension of “Deconstructed" curatorial project at Asisebenze Art Atelier, this exhibition contributes to vital conversations about belonging, mental health, and the persistence of African cosmologies in spaces not designed to accommodate them. Tshabalala's godmother emerges not only as a personal guardian but as a collective archetype—one that disrupts the cold sterility of urban existence with warmth, protection, and alternative modes of seeing and being.