New at Norval Foundation: ‘Umkhangu/Birthmark’ by Sthenjwa Luthuli

Norval Foundation has announced the display of the exhibition Umkhangu/Birthmark, featuring the work of South African artist Sthenjwa Luthuli, in his first institutional solo exhibition. The exhibition is set to open on 11 September 2025, and explores themes of memory, cultural identity, and African spiritualism through meticulous printmaking. Here’s everything you need to know.

About the Exhibition

Born in KwaZulu-Natal in 1991, Luthuli is a self-taught printmaker whose practice has earned recognition for its meticulous craftsmanship and spiritual depth. Through intricately carved wood reliefs and richly textured prints, Luthuli explores themes of recollection, cultural practice, and African spiritualism – bridging the personal and ancestral in ways that are both poetic and profoundly moving.

The title of the exhibition, Umkhangu – translated from isiZulu as “birthmark” – evokes both physical and metaphysical meanings. Within African cosmologies, a birthmark may signal ancestral presence, a spiritual guide, or a unique destiny. Luthuli reclaims this symbolism as a powerful metaphor for belonging, legacy, and inner transformation.

Featuring fourteen works created between 2010 and 2025, the exhibition brings together key pieces of Luthuli’s catalogue, alongside a new body of work. Through rhythmic pattern, symbolism, and intimate mark-making, Luthuli renders the body as a vessel of inherited knowledge; resisting erasure and reconnecting with suppressed histories and sacred traditions.

“Luthuli’s work stands as an astonishing testament to individual resilience and the emancipatory power of art,” states Ashleigh McLean, WHATIFTHEWORLD Gallery Director. “His personal journey — rising to become an artist of this calibre despite systemic obstacles — is profoundly inspirational. Blending exceptional technical skill with deep philosophical reflection, Luthuli creates compositions that pulse with vitality.”

Sthenjwa Luthuli is hosting a public walkabout of the exhibition on 13 September at 11am, for those that wish to fully grasp the themes and inspirations behind the work.

How to book tickets to the Norval Foundation

Norval Foundation offers an annual, affordable membership for single, double and group tickets with special perks such as invitations to exhibition openings and special discounts on guided tours. All pensioners pay half price every Thursday, and African Nationals may need to present their passports to access the special entry fee. See more info here.

Cost: Day Pass – R200pp for African Nationals, R300pp for Internationals, R100pp for young adults aged 18 to 24 years, kids under 18 enter free. Book via Webtickets

When: Running from 11 September 2025 – 10 January 2026 | Wed to Sat 10am to 5pm, Sun 10am to 4pm | Closed on Mon & Tues
Where: Norval Foundation, 4 Steenberg Road, Tokai, Cape Town

Website: norvalfoundation.org
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 087 654 5900
Instagram: @norvalfoundation
Facebook: @NorvalFoundation