Context (CMS Context)
(Bio) 'Durant Sihlali (1935 Germiston- 2004 Johannesburg) worked in a wide range of media, including painting, sculpture, printmaking and ‘pulp paintings’ where paper and pigments are the primary mediums. Sihlali showed an interest in art from an early age, inspired, in part, by his father whose hobby was drawing and modelling. In 1947 Sihlali won an art competition for learners from Queenstown and surrounding districts. In 1948 his family moved to Soweto, Johannesburg, and Sihlali studied at the Chiawelo Art Centre under Alphius Kubeka. Further studies included classes given by Cecil Skotnes (qv.) at the Polly Street Art Centre, classes given by Carlos Sdoya and, until 1958, classes under Sydney Goldblatt. From 1965 until 1970 Sihlali designed jewellery and curios to earn a living but, from 1970 onwards, was able to paint full-time. In 1978 he began teaching in the FUBA Outreach Programmes and was appointed Head of Fine Arts at FUBA in 1983, a position he held until his resignation in 1988. In 1985 Sihlali was awarded a French Government Travel Scholarship that enabled him to study at the Villa Arson Art School in Nice. Sihlali was also a gifted sculptor and during the early 1980s produced a series of sculptures of workers in the coal mines of the Witwatersrand.
His mastery of watercolour painting is evident in the works in the Campbell Smith Collection. From the 1970s onwards he produced watercolours of shanty- town subjects which reflected his sympathy for the plight of people suffering under apartheid. These include a series on forced removals where the attractive quality of his technique seems almost at odds with his harsh subject matter.' [From http://www.revisions.co.za/biographies/durant-sihlali/#.U_32akjRdZg, accessed 27/08/2014].
Event Date 27/8/2014
Author: Remke van der Velden

Context (CMS Context)
Presented by The Art Fund and the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation. An acquisition project to build a collection of modern and contemporary work on paper from Australia, Canada and South Africa was undertaken over 2011-13 with the support of a grant under The Art Fund's RENEW programme. The collection was developed with the expert advice and generous assistance of Annie Coombes and Norman Vorano in relation to South African and Inuit artists respectively. Khadija Carroll, Anita Herle and Diana Wood Conroy also contributed to the selection process. Obtained from Robyn Nesbitt, Artist Proof Studio Curator, The Bus Factory, 3 President Street, West Entrance, Newtown Cultural Precinct, Newtown/ PO Box 664, Newtown, 2113, Gauteng, Johannesburg.

Part of the Portfolio 'Volatile Alliances', 1995 with 23 prints (2014.258 - 2014.280), edition 50/65 (though this is the only print with a different edition number, 63/65). Participating artists included Paul Molete, Gordon Gabashane, Nhlanhla Xaba, Joe Ndlovu, Simon Mthimkhulu, Ezekiel Budeli, Pepe Jose Abela, Mmakgabo Helen Sebidi, Philippa Hobbs, Dominic Tshabangu, Giulio Tambellini, Moleleki Frank Ledimo, Lothar Riedel, Mbongeni Richman Buthelezi, Velaphi Mzimba, Elvin Sefati Nethononda, Sokhaya Charles Nkosi, Vincent Baloyi, Simon Sejake, Durant Sihlali, Diane Victor, Muzi Donga and Kim Berman.
Event Date 27/8/2014
Author: maa

Description (CMS Description)
Lithogrpah by Durant Sihlali Untitled, 1995. Edition: 50/65. Inscribed, signed and dated: '50/65 Durant Sihlali 95'. Condition: Good. Part of the Volatile Alliances 1995 portfolio, edition 50/65.
Event Date 27/8/2014
Author: maa