Sipho Mabona’s artistry transcends the boundaries of medium, transforming humble cotton fabric into captivating sculptural origami. Imbued with the rich hues of natural dyes, Mabona’s creations are a confluence of color, form, and texture. His process begins with meticulously dyeing the cotton, a practice steeped in tradition and imbuing each piece with a unique character. The fabric is then meticulously folded and sculpted, its inherent pliability lending itself to the creation of dynamic and organic shapes. The final sculptures are abstract yet evocative, often hinting at the natural world through their biomorphic forms.
Mabona’s work celebrates the transformative potential of art. By breathing new life into everyday materials, he compels us to see the extraordinary within the ordinary. His sculptures are a testament to the power of human creativity, reminding us that beauty can be found in the unexpected intersections of nature, tradition, and artistic vision.
While my earlier works have smooth monochromatic surfaces in my latest body of work I felt an urge to introduce a painterly gesture and an element of chance to counterbalance the stringent geometrical appearance of the crease-patterns… Both Origami and natural dyeing are techniques that have rarely been harnessed in fine arts that unlock an intriguing field of unexplored narratives.
Sipho Mabona via Colossal
More info: Website, Flickr, Instagram (h/t: Colossal, Wikipedia).
