Simphiwe Ndzube’s “Oracles of the Pink Universe” is currently on view at the Denver Art Museum through September 12. The artist’s first solo museum exhibition in the U.S., it features a new body of work reflecting his experience growing up in post-Apartheid South Africa.
Installation view, “Oracles of the Pink Universe,” courtesy of the Denver Art Museum.
Ndzube transformed the gallery space into a vibrant and energetic universe to explore themes of conflict, power, and survival. His new large-scale works continue to incorporate elements of magical realism and mythic narratives in relation to contemporary African history.
Installation view, “Oracles of the Pink Universe,” courtesy of the Denver Art Museum.
Throughout, he incorporates unconventional media, such as second-hand clothing into his installations. Figures, sometimes depicted as headless, amorphous, and non-binary, are found in paintings in which they emerge from within the frames, breaking the confinements of traditional paintings.
Installation view, “Oracles of the Pink Universe,” courtesy of the Denver Art Museum.
Ndzube seeks to push the boundaries of perception and challenge viewers to rethink the definition of possibility. Drawing from history, fantasy, and his personal life, this visual realm symbolizes resilience and strength in the fight for human rights.
