Sipho Mabona's Calabash Sculptures Honor Late Father with Recycled Milk Cartons
Sipho Mabona has unveiled a new collection named 'The Calabashes We Never Drank Amasi From,' where he transforms recycled milk cartons into striking sculptures resembling calabashes. This work serves as a tribute to his deceased father, Mongameli Mabona, and evokes memories of sipping Amasi from calabashes during his childhood in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. The artist incorporates vibrant pieces from Tetra Pak containers into the gourds, which include mirrors that alter reflections. Accompanying the sculptures are audio recordings of his father reciting poetry and passages from his doctoral thesis on Xhosa cultural history. These pieces, resting on plinths made of soil, cow dung, glue, and water, were showcased at Kunstmuseum Luzern, with dimensions of 105 × 218 × 209 centimeters.
Key facts
- Sipho Mabona created a new series titled 'The Calabashes We Never Drank Amasi From'.
- The series uses calabashes and recycled milk cartons (Tetra Pak) to create vibrant sculptures.
- The work is a tribute to his late father, Mongameli Mabona, a scholar and activist.
- The sculptures include small mirrors and audio recordings of his father reading poems and thesis excerpts.
- The plinths are made from soil, cow dung, glue, and water, inspired by rondavel huts.
- The series was exhibited at Kunstmuseum Luzern.
- The work explores themes of cultural transmission, resilience, and the intersection of personal and cultural histories.
- Calabashes are used in Xhosa culture for storing food and drink, as musical instruments (Uhandi), and in rituals.
Entities
Artists
- Sipho Mabona
- Mongameli Mabona
Institutions
- Kunstmuseum Luzern
- Colossal
Locations
- Eastern Cape
- South Africa
- Luzern
- Switzerland