Fela Dlamini – The wood whisperer
“I’m the first born of three and grew up in Luve. I did high school at Nkhaba and then started working with soap stone creating pieces for tourists. A few years later I moved to Ezulwini and met up with Yebo Art Gallery. I now live and work at Lobamba. I’ve participated in many local art exhibitions and also in South Africa and Finland. I’m also working with a team of local artists together with ArtReach doing exciting creative community projects in urban and rural areas. The medium I use is wood, I have a strong connection and understanding with wood. I have conversations with the wood that I have chosen as it speaks to me and inspires me. I’m shy but when I create something together with the wood I can speak my mind boldly. I speak for the wood and the wood speaks for me. When I sculpt together with my friend the wood I do not feel lonely or depressed. I feel alive and free! It shows me what I am capable of and what my potential is. Some call me a wood whisperer because I see the story within it and it’s a powerful weapon to break my silence.”
Fela’s powerful work can be viewed online at www.yeboswaziland.com and at www.facebook.com/yebodesigns You can also find his work at Yebo Art Gallery in Ezulwini and at their gallery shop at Swazi Candles Centre in Malkerns.