Nkhensani Rihlampfu (b.1988) is a talented artist who explores themes of identity, perception, and society. He grew up in Limpopo and studied Fine Arts at Tshwane University of Technology, where he earned his degree in 2011. Rihlampfu works with different materials, like shredded South African banknotes and calico rope, to create sculptures and mixed media art that challenge how we see the world.
His art often focuses on the space between what we believe is true and what is actually real. One of his important exhibitions, The Margin of Breath (2019), invited viewers to think about how perception and hidden truths connect. In the same year, he was named Artist of the Year at the RMB Turbine Art Fair and won the Absa L’Atelier Pool A award.
Rihlampfu has also shown his work at important places like the Absa Gallery, Grahamstown National Arts Festival, and Pretoria Art Museum. He has created special artworks for institutions like the South African Reserve Bank and Constitutional Hill, which show how his work is important in South Africa’s cultural landscape.
In his own words, Rihlampfu says, “My work exists in the overlapping margin between truth and ideology; it is in this space that we discover our identity and the power of communication.” His art invites people to think deeply about who they are and how they connect with the world.
Sources: Absa Art Hot Spot
