Inga Somdyala
Inga Somdyala is a visual artist born in Queenstown, Eastern Cape in 1994 and currently living in Cape Town, South Africa. Departing from his isiXhosa cultural identity, Somdyala explores aspects of the cultural, political and social negotiations of the post-apartheid generation.
Uphengululo Lowlimi (2019), Variable
Working primarily in print and installation, his work is an evocative and tactile exploration of isiXhosa cultural history within South African political history as it intersects with his lived experience.
Chronicle of a Death Foretold (2019) soil, compost, chalk and ochre on canvas, 120 X 180 CM
Inga Somdyala has taken part in group exhibitions locally, most recently in the head the hand at blank projects (2019) and AMAQABA Vol. 1 – a collaborative exhibition with Xhanti Zwelendaba at Eclectica Contemporary (2018). Other group shows include Rocks hosted by Gallery Gallery (2019), a transit platform for contemporary art developed by The Atelier, Unpacking at Eclectica Print Gallery (2016) and previously Collective Noun at the Michaelis Galleries (2015).
Everything Scatter (2016) Off-set Lithograph on Zerkall, 75 X 55 CM
Sonny’s Blues and Other Stories (2016 – 2017) Chalk on paper, 70 X 50 CM
Ntyilo Ntyilo (2018) Mild steel and found school desk, Variable
Somdyala has also exhibited at the Investec Cape Town Art Fair with Eclectica Print Gallery, in 2016 and 2017. Completing his BAFA (Hons.) at the University of Cape Town (UCT) in 2017, Somdyala received the Katrine Harries Print Cabinet Award and Simon Gerson Prize for his final body of work.
In 2019, Somdyala completed his MFA studies at UCT’s Michaelis School of Fine Art.
Below are video stills from Inga’s film, Izandla Ezingcolileyo (Act I - II) (2019)
