(b. 1975 Giyani, Limpopo, South Africa)

Phillemon Hlungwani is recognised as one of the most accomplished contemporary artists now working in South Africa. Known predominantly for his large-scale charcoal drawings depicting scenes from rural life as well as formal and informal settlements, his work is rooted deeply in a sense of community and the traditional values that endure there. Many of his recent drawings include proverbs in his first language – xiTsonga – as ­titles. These proverbs are often difficult to translate into English but they communicate an essential moral idea – showing how members of a particular community are either sustaining or betraying the values of the people living there. The people are inseparable from their environment, although his more recent images have introduced colour into the clothing of his protagonists to help them stand out in all their vibrancy and humanity. The scenes he depicts are usually full of motion and life – the characters bursting with thoughts, opinions and yearnings, which are communicated further through the arcs and lines that weave the different parts of each drawing together. Everything is connected. There is no distinction between the internal or the external, the animate or inanimate, the material or the spiritual. As a boy, Hlungwani used to herd goats and cattle and look after chickens – and this relationship with the animal world is often present in his work. Trees were also a source of shade and food – both for animals and people – as well as providing places for community debates, ceremonies and prayer. Sometimes, as in the work titled Vutlhari bya lava kulu ka hina (The Wisdom of the Old People), trees embody and stand for the human – carrying in their roots and leaves and fruit all that has passed beneath them. Hlungwani is suggesting throughout his work that people who live in the simplest places with few possessions can still lead good, dignified lives and remain happy. They may have places to go and things to do, but they know who they are – where they have come from and where they are going.

Phillemon Hlungwani was born in Thomo Village, Giyani, in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. He attended Thomo Primary School and Hanyani Thomo High School, where he developed his skills under the guidance of his art teacher, motivator and friend Muxe Moses Mthombeni – and Queen Mtileni. Having attained an A for Art in Matric, Hlungwani studied at the Johannesburg Art Foundation before studying printmaking under the mentorship of Kim Berman, the late Nhlahla Xaba and Osiah Masukameng at the Artist Proof Studio. Hlungwani later completed a teacher’s training course in Art at the WITS School of Art. He has since been based at the Artist Proof Studio, where he has facilitated classes, been a unit manager for papermaking and was the coordinator for community outreach and special projects at the studio. He has also worked in a range of advisory and mentoring projects. Sponsored by the prestigious Ampersand Foundation Fellowship, Hlungwani went on an extensive study tour of printmaking studios in the United States. In addition to his drawing and graphic work, Hlungwani has completed and facilitated many wall murals including the mural at the Standard Bank Art Gallery (for the Picasso in Africa exhibition) and the mural for Bell Dewar and Hall. He has also been commissioned by the JDA (Johannesburg Development Agencies), MTN and the South African Governmental offices. Awards include winning the King Korn competition (2000 and 2001) and the SABC Radio Station Munghana Lonene FM Log Design Award (2003). He was also one of the finalists for the Absa Gallery competition in 2001, 2002 and 2009.

SOLO SHOWS

2024

Mitsheketo yale makaya (Stories from a place I call home), Everard Read, Johannesburg

2023

Ku tirha hi matimba swa vuyerisa / Hard work pays off, Everard Read, London, UK

2021

A Wu Xi Tivi Lexi Nga Mbilwini Ya Mani, Everard Read, Franschhoek, South Africa

2019     

Ntsako Wa Xibelani, Everard Read Gallery, Johannesburg

2017

Rirandzu Ra Manana/ The Love Of Women. Everard Read Gallery, London, UK

2016 
Everard Read Gallery, Johannesburg and Grande Provence Gallery – From Giyani to Alexandra

Reality Check, group show at Everard Read, Cape Town

2014 
Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees (Titled: Mi Kondzo Ya Tinghawi/In the Footsteps of Heroes)
Everard Read Gallery, Johannesburg – Qunu Drawings

2013 
John Martin Gallery London – Cullinan Drawings sponsoed by Petra Diamonds plc

2011 
Everard Read Gallery Johannesburg
Knysna Fine Art

2009 
The Irma Stern Museum in Cape Town
Everard Read Gallery, Johannesburg (Titled: ‘Tshungulo wuyisiwa e mahlweni’/ The Healing Process).

2008 
ABSA Gallery in Johannesburg, (Titled: ‘Xitsonga I ndzuti wa Xigaza’/The Tsonga is the Shadow of Xigaza)

2006 
The Gallery Premises, Braamfontein, JHB

2000 
First one-man show in Soweto, sponsored by Kaya FM, The Sowetan, Sunday World and Absolut Vodka

GROUP SHOWS

2024

FNB Johannesburg Art Fair 

2023

What I Feel When I Think About The Cosmos, Everard Read, Franschhoek, South Africa

Natural Habitat, 16 on Lerotholi, Langa, Cape Town, South Africa

2021

Spring Show, Everard Read, Johannesburg, South Africa

Offering, Everard Read, Franschhoek, South Africa

Oasis, 25th anniversary exhibition, Everard Read, Cape Town, South Africa

2020   

The Portrait Show, Everard Read, Johannesburg, South Africa

Imago, Everard Read, Franschhoek, South Africa

Staring Straight to the Future, online exhibition, Everard Read, South Africa & UK

TINY, Everard Read, Johannesburg, South Africa 

Odyssey, Everard Read, Johannesburg, South Africa

2019

Southern Aspect: A Group Exhibition, Everard Read, London, UK  

2017

Reality Check, Everard Read, Cape Town, South Africa 

Winter Collection: Everard Read, Cape Town, South Africa 

2016

Opening exhibition, Everard Read, London, UK

2015 
1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair London

2014 
FNB Johannesburg Art Fair

2013 
Art 13 London

2012 
India Art Fair, the 4th Edition of India Modern and Contemporary Art Fair
The 21st birthday celebration of Artist Proof Studio exhibition, Johannesburg Art Gallery
FNB Johannesburg Art Fair

2011 
FNB Johannesburg Art Fair
Horse Exhibition (multiple views of a singular beast at Circa and Everard Read Gallery)
Art Angels Charity Art Auction

2010 
‘A View from the South’, Everard Read Gallery, Johannesburg

2009 
ABSA L’Atelier Art competition finalist
Printmaking Council of New Jersey ‘Studio Arrabbiata’
Boston Art Academy
RENDEZVOUS Focus original lithography, an exhibition of more than 100 South African and French artists’ artworks touring and exhibited in South Africa.
Gallery on the Square, Nelson Mandela Square (Titled: ‘The 50s: An Interpretation’)

Exhibited in Johannesburg Art Fair with Everard Read Gallery, Johannesburg, and the Artist Proof Studio

2008 

Knysna Fine Art

David Brown Fine Art, Johannesburg

Aspire Contemporary Art Gallery, Pretoria

Gallery on the Square, Nelson Mandela Square

2007 
”‹Thomson Art Gallery in Melville
SASOL, Rosebank

2006 
Gallery on the Square, Nelson Mandela Square
Spark Gallery
Art on Paper
UJ former RAU Gallery

2005 
Touring exhibition to the Gulf of OMAN Community Art Center, Qatar Hotel, Salala

2003 
The Gallery Premises and the Johannesburg Art Gallery

2000 
Polokwane Art Museum

Heritage Day for Arts and Culture Exhibition in Belgium

1997 
Polokwane Art Museum

COLLECTIONS

Ascot DiamondsBell

Dewar and Hall

JohannesburgBidvest

BLP Merchandising Solutions

Brait,

Centurion Hotel, Pretoria

Ellerman House, Cape Town

Irma Stern Museum (UCT) , Cape Town

Johannesburg Development Agency

Karoo Hotel outside Cape Town

Medscheme Holding

MTN print exchange

Nando’s

Nedbank, Johannesburg

Norman Borlaug Institute for International Culture, Texas

Raphael Suites and Michelangelo Towers, Sandton

Rand Merchant Bank Corporate Collection

Sasol Collection

South African Reserve Bank

Standard Bank Art Gallery, Johannesburg

UNISA Art Collection

Vodacom