LUCAS SITHOLE
LS8211
"Witchdoctor", 1982 - Swazi msimbiti wood - 076x048x043 cm
Collection:
The Rupert Family Foundation for the Arts, Stellenbosch
Provenance:
Private Coll., Johannesburg
Gallery 21, Johannesburg
Work exhibited:
Gallery 21, Johannesburg - 1982 cat. X06; 1983 - cat. X18; 1985 cat. X15
"The bigger Picture" - Rupert Museum, Stellenbosch - 2017
Work on auction:
Strauss & Co., Johannesburg - 9th November, 2015 - Lot 251 (realised ZAR 545'664 - CHF 38'400)
Work illustrated:
The Star, Johannesburg - 9.12.1982, ill.
Gallery 21 invitation brochure "Selected Sculptures 1980-1983 by Lucas Sithole", ill.
"Where" Magazine, Johannesburg - 11.3.1984, ill.
"Hello", Johannesburg - Gallery 21 advertisements (February + May 1984, Nov 1985), ill.
Sowetan, Johannesburg - 30.10.1985, ill.
Informa, Pretoria - Dec. 1985, Vol. 32 No 10, ill. on cover + p. 16
Our Art4 Ons Kuns (F.E.S.T., Pretoria) - 1993, p. 184 ill. + commented
sapeople.com/2015/10/31/terrific-south-african-art-for-big-prices-at-upcoming-auction/ - illustrated
Netwerk24.com - "Gaan nog 'n SA juweel landuit?" deur Marthinus van Bart - 8th November, 2015, illustrated article
Strauss & Co., Johannesburg - 9th November, 2015 - auction cat. pp 178/179 Lot 251, ill.
Strauss & Co., Johannesburg - 9th November, 2015 - auction cat. illustrated on back cover
"Review 2015" Strauss & Co., Johannesburg - January, 2016 - ill. p. 48
Strauss & Co., Johannesburg - 14th March, 2016 - auction cat., ill. colour full-page on p.10
issuu.com/arttimes/docs/south_africa_art_times_march_2016 - illustrated on p.3
Die Burger - Die Kunste: Beeldhou: Kunstenaars van formaat - July/Aug. 2016 "Lucas Sithole se beelde reik na miljoen-kerf" deur Marthinus van Bart - ill. on cover
Work included on website:
artsouthafrica.com - newsarticles 2015
"The bigger Picture" - Rupert Museum, Stellenbosch - 2017
Work on Instagram - Strauss & Co
Press review:
Die Transvaler, Johannesburg - 6.12.1982, commented
Vaderland, Johannesburg - 6.11.1985, commented
Note:
This sculpture is recorded and illustrated in the monograph published in 2015
“Lucas SITHOLE 1931 – 1994: Highlights 1966-1993” – ISBN 978-3-033-04655-9 – on pp. 118/119
Radio Interview with Lucas Sithole concerning this work
Artist's legend:
"I met this witchdoctor and wanted to make friends with him, but then I was very frightened. He was in his village. I walked to his garden, he saw me and said: what do you want? I told him I was looking for some wood. Someone pointed up to the tree near him, from which there many dead snakes hanging. There were also snake skins hanging around his neck and in his hair. I had started to carve this sculpture and wanted to show it to the witchdoctor before it was completed, but he did not want to see it and threatened that I would not get away alive if I showed it to him. So I left then with my truck and he never saw the sculpture."
