When Themba Mkhangeli started drawing, his family was unimpressed by his interest in art, but today his designs are noticed all over the country. Themba’s style is unusual and distinctive, as his expressive portraits are drawn exclusively with ballpoint pens.
He grew up without knowing that it was possible to make a living from art – and from the art of ballpoint pens at that. He was born in Nyanga, Cape Town, one of five children of a single mother. He discovered his passion for drawing at school when he tried to be better at it than his brother, with whom he usually competed. For economic reasons, however, he could not afford any artistic materials and therefore used the ballpoint pen he was given at school. In this way, he developed his skills with the modest means at his disposal and turned them into an extraordinary trademark.
The Cape Town native has won several competitions over the years, including the one to design the new South African 2-Rand coin. “I chose a female springbok and a baby because I’m inspired by single parents, as my mother was one and that’s a big problem in our country. My work is generally inspired by nature.”
Themba’s edition for JAHRESGABE deals with typical South African animals, especially insects. “When I was young, we used to play with insects and kill them. But as I got older, I learned the importance of insects and how they are part of our lives. Now I try to include them in my work.”
“I intend to convey values through art, because I believe that art means life.” ”
Themba has created 30 ballpoint pen drawings on paper measuring approx. 15 × 21 cm for the JAHRESGABE.
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