Artists We Love: Khehla Chepape Makgato

WORDS Amelia Brown IMAGES RK Contemporary

South African born mixed-media artist, writer and philanthropist Khehla Chepape Makgato’s solo exhibition, entitled Chronicles From Makotopong, has just completed its run at RK Contemporary in Riebeek-Kasteel in the Western Cape.

VISI chatted to him about the background to the exhibition, his residency in the States, working with William Kentridge, his philanthropic endeavours and more…

Image credit: Art and Culture Trust.

How did you develop your style?

My style developed over the years. It began as the idea of exploring beyond my professional printmaking background – I wanted to scratch below the surface of traditional ways of producing prints using a press. I ended up collaging – or recycling – failed prints, referred to as “misprints”, to create something new. This developed into a technique I now call CHEPAPEISM, where I use African print fabric to tell my stories.

How much has the South African context influenced your work? 

It has influenced my work so much that I have gone from telling stories about the Marikana massacre to digging deeper into the historical narratives that have shaped South Africa way before modern day political parties. For example, the exhibition I had in 2016 at the Market Theatre, entitled The Heroines of Southern Africa, looked at the black female leadership dating as far back as the 1800s.

How did you choose the title for your latest exhibition?

Chronicles From Makotopong is a collection of memories of the village that raised me. It looks into a journey of a decade of my professional art practice and pays homage to the people and communities of Makotopong. I am who I am because of the untold teachings of that village, from schools to village elders, friends and ordinary people.

Tell us about Samanthole Creative Projects?

It’s a community-based organisation that I founded in 2010 after realising that there were only a few arts programmes and initiatives in the Limpopo province that sought to advance, advocate and unleash artistic freedom enshrined in the Republic of South Africa Constitution. We set out to achieve this through creative art workshops that teach the basic skills of drawing, painting and book binding, as well as theatre workshops. Inaugural workshops were facilitated by myself and fellow artist and colleague Jan Tshikhuthula. Many friends of Samanthole Creative Projects believe in our mission and vision, which is to “promote excellence in youthology through creative arts”, and have helped with donations or materials to keep us going.

What are you working on at the moment?

We are working on Samanthole Arts Festival to celebrate the journey we have been on for the past eight years. We are also working on the second installment of Khehla Chepape Makgato Youth Library, which was launched last year at Ngwamorei School in Mphaaneng, over 60 km outside Polokwane. This second installment will be at Poguti Maribulla Primary in Ga-Mothiba. Our next goal is an installation at Mananga Primary School, where I studied English and visual arts over two decades ago.

What, or who, inspires you?

Waking up every morning is one of my greatest inspirations. Being able to wake up healthy and alive offers me another chance to create. I travel a lot, read a lot and am observant always – all these end up influencing or inspiring my next body of work. South Africa’s history fascinates me. I am interested in researching another side of the history, the side that is not largely recorded, HERSTORY.

Tell us about the Zygote Press International Artist Residency in Cleveland, USA that you were chosen for. 

The residency was for two months from late March to late May 2018. I spent it working at Zygote Press, producing works in their print workshop, facilitating printmaking workshops at various schools in Cleveland, and leading discussions and crit sessions with BFA students at Oberlin College in Ohio and the College of Staten Island in New York. I gave my first international public lecture at Oberlin College. It was such a wonderful experience. During my stay I visited lots of museums and galleries and had my first solo exhibitions in the US at Harris Stanton Gallery in Cleveland and at Zygote Press upon completion of the residency programme. These were great highlights for this year.

What do you miss about South Africa when you are away from home?

I always have South Africa in my heart wherever I go, so I don’t miss it that much. I only miss the land of my ancestors in Limpopo when I travel away from home.

Describe where you create your pieces/your studio (here and there)?

I mostly create my pieces in my studio or in communal studio environments. My studio is effervescent – full of fabric materials, paper, canvas, paints, etc. – which are my holy ground for creation and productivity. My production process starts with listening to Malombo music, which is malopo – a spiritual fusion of Bapedi and Venda ancestry by Dr Philip Tabane, may his soul rest in power. Music keeps my creativity in the studio upbeat.

What time of day do you prefer to work?

I work from 2 am till around 6 pm. For my creative writing and reading, I prefer to do it in the mornings.

You collaborated with William Kentridge in 2015. What was that like and is there another South African artist you would like to work with?

It was a pleasure. William Kentridge is a great man. Over the years he has become more like a good friend and mentor to me. I have also been mentored by the late Peter Clarke, the late Judith Mason, and two living legends David Koloane and Kagiso Patrick (Pat) Mautloa.

I have worked with Zakes Mda since 2016. During my recent trip to the US he made time to come and see my solo exhibition at Harris Stanton Gallery. From there we went to Zygote Press and worked on our collaborative monotype prints for our future two-man show.

What are you reading at the moment?

I recently finished reading The Land Is Ours by Tembeka Ngcukaitobi, The Zulus of New York manuscript by Zakes Mda. Currently I’m reading Rich People Problems by Kevin Kwan alongside Losing My Virginity by Richard Branson.

If you weren’t an artist, what would you be?

I wouldn’t be anything.

You have been awarded some amazing accolades. Do you have a career highlight?

It’s a great pleasure to have my work acknowledged at home in South Africa; all these accolades really keep me going as an artist. Some highlights for me this year include having three solo exhibitions on two continents; being a guest lecturer in two different states in America; and giving my first international public lecture at Oberlin College, an institution where great sons of the soil such as John Langalibalele Dube, the founding president of what went on to become the African National Congress, and Dr Mavuma Nembula, the first black physician, studied. Ohio is also the state where the first black female South African, by the name of Charlotte Makgomo (née Manye) Maxeke, graduated with a BSc from Wilberforce University at the turn of the 19th century. Going and working there has been an all-time highlight.

What is the last piece of art you purchased?

Some of the latest pieces I acquired are by Dr Esther Mahlangu, Yana Mikho-Misho, Rebekah Wilhelm, Miguel Aragon, and a 14-year-old Tembisa-based artist Eleloang Soko; a very talented young girl.

What’s next for Khehla Chepape Makgato?

I am working on my next solo exhibition to be exhibited at iTU Design Space in Grenoble, France, in December 2018. Next year will be the two-man show with Zakes Mda.

Chepape will be represented by the Galerie Noko at the Turbine Art Fair in Joburg from 12 to 15 July 2018. Keep up with him on Instagram. 

To enquire about Chepape’s work, contact RK Contemporary gallery, and to find out how you can contribute to Samanthole Creative Projects, email Chepape kaycee.chepape@gmail.com or the Projects Manager Shaun at shaunmphahlele@gmail.com.