KAROO NEWS - The art of Cradock resident Luthando Ndabeni is in high demand. The talented visual artist is self-taught and skilled in various mediums such as paint, pastel, charcoal and graphite.
He has contributed to various public art projects, including the Amazwi South African Museum of Literature (PESP Project), Cradock arts town, and ArtBank of South Africa.
He developed a passion for murals when approached by Neville Prinsloo, Nandipha Solo and Lisa Kerr, stakeholders of Cradock arts town, for a public murals project.
He eagerly joined, seeing it as an opportunity to put Cradock on the map and share their stories and history on the town's walls.
Ndabeni was born in Gqeberha and grew up in Cradock, where he attended EMacembe Primary School. Later, his family moved to Burgersdorp, and he completed his matriculation at Ethembeni Secondary School. In 2012, he returned to Cradock, where he is currently based.
"I can't quite remember when I started to draw, but I was very young, still at EMacembe," he says. "It was just a hobby back then, and I never thought fine art could become a career."
The inspiration for his art comes from everyday life and his experiences as a young person in Cradock, which he believes resonates with other young South Africans. "Art is my purpose; it chose me," he says. "I want to continue pursuing it here in this underrated small town with its rich history.
My dream is to contribute to the development of my town, nurture the skills of young people, and help them discover their purpose. It's essential to achieve this while I'm in Cradock. Art shouldn't be limited to urban areas; it's us from small towns who can use our talents to make a mark, even in big cities."
‘We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news’
