00:00 A helmet, a television or a skull, all adorned with traditional Ndebele art.
00:06 But one of the must-see of this new exhibition is this old BMW, painted in colourful shapes.
00:12 All the work of celebrated South African artist Esther Balangu, the 88-year-old painter.
00:18 Despite having no formal art training, Balangu earned an international reputation,
00:23 with works referencing Ndebele heritage and using skills passed down for generations.
00:29 "I feel great about the Ndebele culture,
00:32 because it is important for people to know their roots and where they come from.
00:38 So it's very important to me."
00:41 With just a chicken feather, she first painted mud huts and chipboards,
00:49 before moving on to luxury cars, vodka bottles and footwear,
00:53 as her intricate patterns became huge commercial hits.
00:58 Balangu's first big international break came in 1989, when she was 54.
01:03 However, South Africa was not quick to recognise Balangu's talent.
01:08 She gained an international prominence at a time when the art scene in her home country
01:14 was focused on contemporary styles.
01:16 "We were taught with curriculums that were looking at majority European artists.
01:22 And this was frustrating for me going into the industry,
01:27 because I realised that I really did not have a great footing into knowing what is around me."
01:33 Today, South Africa recognises its own.
01:36 After Cape Town, the exhibition will move to Johannesburg,
01:40 before departing for the United States and beyond.
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