Context (CMS Context)
(Bio) 'Muzi Donga (Tshabalala) (1951 Orlando East Soweto -). Donga completed his Junior Certificate in 1969, after which he did clerical work until 1972 when he became interested in art. Around this time he attended classes with Cyril Kumalo and Dan Rakgoathe at Mofolo Art Centre, where he also met other future Rorke’s Drift artists, Manganye, Gabashane and Nkotsi. In 1978 he moved to live with his aunt in Dube; after his work had been seen by Eric Mbatha, then teaching at Rorke’s Drift, his aunt showed his portfolio to Ina Perlman of the SAIRR in Johannes burg, who facilitated the award of a bursary from the Jewish Sisterhood. This made it possible for him to go to Rorke’s Drift, where he studied from 1979 to 1981, spending an extra year at the Fine Art school. He is remembered by Lionel Davis as a skilled printmaker who assisted younger students. Until 1986 Donga was employed by the South African Broadcasting Corporation, after which he taught drawing and painting part-time at AIA, Funda. From 1989 he has been a full-time artist, and has exhibited in a number of group shows. He has maintained an association with the Artist Proof Studio in Newtown, Johannesburg, and was included in the Volatile Alliances International Print `Exchange at the 1995 Johannesburg Biennale. He is currently working on a large mosaic project co-ordinated by Bongi Dhlomo at the new Bree Street taxi rank in Johannesburg. ' [From Hobbs and Rankin: 'Rorke's Drift Empowering Prints', 2003, p.211]
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)
Etching by Muzi Donga (Tshabalala) titled 'In the beginning', 1995. Edition: 50/65. Inscribed, signed and dated: '50/65 'In The Beginning' Muzi Donga 95'. Condition: Good. Part of the Volatile Alliances 1995 portfolio, edition 50/65.
Event Date 27/8/2014
Author: maa