J-BAC 2025 - Adult Top 15 Finalist - Vuyisani Mvakwendlu - Shell

Artist: Vuyisani Mvakwendlu

Artwork Title: Shell

Size: 210mm x 195mm

Medium: uMnga thorns, lucky beans and Shells Dala Craft Paint and Vanish (Unframed)

Inspiration:  To the whole world the word “Shell” is synonymous to the Shell Gas Station.

Here in South Africa it means “The Jeffrey’s Bay Shell festival”.

“Shell” is made of uMnga thorns, lucky beans picked from a common coral-tree in the neighbourhood and three Shells picked from the Dolphin Beach. After painting, prior to assembling the artwork, each piece is coated with vanish to protect the painting and material giving it longevity.

Apart from the resemblance of the Shell Gas Station Logo, to me it means the importance of self-care and community, fuelling each other for the journey ahead. Red has to be the favourite colour of the town, from school uniforms to sport teams, and people around every corner of the neighbourhood in Ocean View are wearing red sharing the feeling of love. Yellow represent the bright sun-shinning days, the youth and the future of Jeffery’s Bay. “Shell” is a crafted to honour to the community of Kouga for enthusiastically keeping the culture of the rejuvenating “Jeffrey’s Bay Shell Festival”.

Artist Bio: “Iliva libangulwa ngelinye” is the slogan of Vuyisani Mvakwendlu a contemporary artist based in the Eastern Cape South Africa. He is known for his innovative use of uMnga thorns to make elegant hand crafted jewellery that radiates beauty, dignity and royalty.

With a background in traditional healthcare, Vuyisani was self-thought eight years ago. He draws inspiration from everyday life, special events, history and the indigenous knowledge about beadwork, plants and healing properties of nature.

His work has been featured in exhibitions such as “Phila uPhilise” “Heal to be Healed” at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Museum and cover of “Celebrating The African Song” by Dumza Maswana. Last but not least he exhibited at the South African Tourism launch at Pabala Private Nature Reserve.

Through his work, Vuyisani seeks to connect with the viewer and evoke a sense of pride, remembrance and self-reliance. Inviting them to interact with the nature they coexist with to solve the challenges they face in everyday life.