“Iziko Museums of South Africa is proud to announce ‘Then I Knew I Was Good at Painting’: Esther Mahlangu, A Retrospective, opening on February 17, 2024. Curated by Nontobeko Ntombela, the exhibition showcases Dr. Esther Mahlangu’s illustrious 50-year career, highlighting her ascent as a contemporary artist of global renown. The retrospective, held at the Iziko South African National Gallery from February 18 to August 11, 2024, will feature over 100 artworks loaned from international collections, alongside historic photographs and a short film. Notably, Mahlangu’s iconic BMW 525i Art Car, absent from South Africa for over 30 years, will make a historic return, underscoring her groundbreaking contribution to the BMW Art Car Collection in 1991.”
“The exhibition encapsulates Mahlangu’s artistic evolution through the lens of color and form, offering an intimate exploration of her diverse oeuvre. Curator Nontobeko Ntombela emphasizes Mahlangu’s fusion of African cultures with modernity, celebrating her voice, agency, and pioneering spirit. Mahlangu’s personal narrative, rooted in her childhood discovery of painting at the age of 10, serves as the thematic backbone of the retrospective, echoing her self-assertive stance in the art world.”
“This retrospective marks a significant milestone in South African art, honoring Mahlangu as one of the nation’s foremost artists to receive a retrospective exhibition in esteemed global museums. Dr. Bongani Ndhlovu, Acting CEO of Iziko Museums of South Africa, praises Mahlangu as a living symbol of triumph over adversity, whose art has inspired generations and embodies Africa-centered innovation. BMW Group South Africa’s CEO, Peter van Binsbergen, underscores the exhibition’s significance, affirming the company’s longstanding collaboration with Mahlangu and the symbolic return of the BMW Art Car to South African soil.”