George Pemba
Artist in the WildernessApril 2 1912 — July 12 2001 |
Artist: Andrew Nhlangwini Location: 28 Ferguson Road, New Brighton, Port Elizabeth
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Port Elizabeth artist Andrew Nhlangwini used celebrated painter George Pemba’s favoured medium, watercolours, to create the portrait on the memorial outside the Pemba family home in Port Elizabeth. Picture: Gary Horlor © Sunday Times In 1952, George Pemba resigned from his hated job as a rent collector to become a full-time artist. Though encouraged to do so by fellow pioneer artist Gerard Sekoto and by his own successful exhibitions, Pemba did not believe he would be able to "live by art". Working in the garage of his house, where he lived for more than 40 years, he felt himself to be in what he called "the wilderness", although his talent was obvious to those exposed to it: In 1931, one of Pemba's portrait subjects, a man named Ncgobo, told him, "But I never thought you could draw souls!" From The Archives A Countryman in Clerk's ClothingEven nine years before his "grand tour" of South Africa, Pemba was chomping at the bit to flee the confines of the city. The Struggling PainterGeorge Pemba struggled to find the funds for formal art training, and to establish his name in the art world. Beating the CompetitionTake a quick glimpse at how the lives of George Pemba and Gerard Sekoto mingled early in their careers in a remarkably unexpected way. A Grand TourRead extracts from the diaries of George Pemba. Here, he describes how he raised the money to go on a painting tour of South Africa, and his odyssey’s inspiring effects on his work. The Pen is Mightier Than ApartheidSee the work of Port Elizabeth’s precursor to Zapiro, George Pemba. Life Stories Pemba's Luminous PaletteIn 1952, George Pemba resigned from his hated job as a rent collector to become a full-time artist.
George Pemba UnveiledFamily, friends and art lovers gathered in the New Brighton home of the late pioneer artist George Pemba last Thursday for the unveiling of a portrait of Pemba. An Artist for the PeoplePort Elizabeth artist Andrew Nhlangwini is behind the painterly memorial recognising the life and work of George Pemba. Taking Art to the Township StreetsPort Elizabeth artist George Pemba has been honoured with the launch of a memorial that commemorates his work. Making the Memorial Who is Andrew Nhlangwini?Dandheni Andrew Nhlangwini is best known for his interpretative works that reflect traditional African narratives and oral histories. The Light Bulb Moment - The Artist's ConceptNhlangwini says George Pemba's memorial artwork is both a tribute and a means of bringing the memory of the artist into the public domain. |
