New African Ceramics II

A collection from Duke Franz of Bavaria
The exhibition is open 
from 3 May 2024 to 6 October 2024.
Die Neue Sammlung – The Design Museum presents
3 modern ceramic objects.
The objects were created by 3 artists from
Cape Town in the country of South Africa.
All objects were made in 2022.

These artists are on show:

• Andile Dyalvane
He was born in 1978 as a descendant of

an ethnic group called Xhosa.
He exhibits ceramic artworks that consist of several pieces.
He wants to show the strong bond with his ancestors.

He is very passionate about nature.
You can tell from one of his ceramic objects called iYuku.
In the language of the Xhosa, this means young bird.
The object is part of a ceramic series called: Bird’s nest.

Weaver birds have good ideas and are very skilled.
They gave Andile Dyalvane the idea for this ceramic object.
Many birds build large nests in which
they live together with other birds.
Today, you do not only see these nests on trees.
The weaver birds also build their nests between electricity poles.
They have adapted to the changes in the environment.

• Madoda Fani
He was born in 1975 and first studied graphic design.
Then he started working with ceramics.

Madoda Fani uses an old method to fire his ceramics.
It is called reduction firing.
But the shapes of his ceramics are completely new:
they are curved and bent.
He carves patterns into the surface.

His ceramic object is called Akahluwa.
In the language of the Xhosa, this means:
the undefeated.
It is a vase that looks like it was formed by nature.
At the beginning, the vase’s surface was completely smooth.
Then the artist carved a pattern into it.
It looks a bit like scales.
The pattern makes you think of insects or reptiles like
crocodiles, lizards or snakes.


• Zizipho Poswa

The textile designer was born in 1979.
Her ceramic works are about 
the role of women among the Xhosa.
Her ceramic object is called Amancanca, Xhosa.
Amancanca is a Xhosa hairstyle with
knots that look like spirals.
The object is part of a ceramic series called:
The Beauty of Our Ancestors.

In this ceramic series, the artist explores
old and new hairstyles of African women.
This way, the artist combines her personal experiences and
the history of women in Africa.
She feels connected to many African women.
Together with these women,
she questions the old ideas of beauty.

Duke Franz of Bavaria loaned the ceramic objects
to Die Neue Sammlung – The Design Museum.
We would like to thank the Duke for 
his generous support and assistance.