Description

Andile Dyalvane’s Ubunzululwazi Lwabaphantsi – Ancestral Wisdom is a richly layered monograph that traces the artist’s evolving journey through clay, spirit, and ancestral connection. Published in 2024, the book serves as both a personal and artistic archive, capturing Dyalvane’s growth from his rural roots in Ngobozana, Eastern Cape, to his international acclaim as one of South Africa’s most revered ceramic artists.

This compelling volume features high-resolution images of his most significant works and landmark exhibitions, offering readers an intimate look into his sculptural language, which draws deeply from Xhosa cosmology, ritual, and oral tradition. The title, meaning “Ancestral Wisdom of the Below/Unseen,” encapsulates Dyalvane’s commitment to honoring the unseen spiritual forces and knowledge systems that guide his creative practice.

Included in the publication is an exclusive interview where Dyalvane reflects on his life, influences, and artistic philosophy. Accompanying texts by writer and curator Olivia Barrell, as well as artist and collaborator Alexis Dyalvane, provide further insight into the cultural, spiritual, and philosophical dimensions of his work.

More than a catalogue, Ubunzululwazi Lwabaphantsi stands as a powerful document of Dyalvane’s dedication to healing, memory, and the ever-present dialogue between land, lineage, and form.