PICS: New York honours Esther Mahlangu

Esther Mahlangu. Picture: Supplied

Esther Mahlangu. Picture: Supplied

Published Sep 19, 2017

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Legendary Ndebele artist Esther Mahlangu has been honoured in Tribeca, New York, with a mural dedicated to her work. 

The painting spans a two-lane road and features Ndebele symbols by a York-based artist Imani Shanklin Roberts, who took to Instagram to celebrate the South African artist.

In a lengthy post, Shanklin Roberts paid tribute to gogo Mahlangu:

" When I first came to New York to attend @prattinstitute in 2009 I didn't imagine that this would be a city I would have a child in, create lasting memories in, let alone have success in my artistry in. Creating a mural in honor of an artist I've known all my life, in a city that isn't welcoming to many, feels unreal. 

"It feels like an aligning moment many of us have when the universe co-creates with us and is in agreement with our path. 

"To you NYC,I present Xola, (Stay in Peace) --((A South African Name I named my daughter--*Alignment*))) a piece that is representative of a feminine energy force that is all encompassing, inclusive and awe-inspiring. Xola welcomes you to charge and open your divine feminine here amidst all that tries to stand against you. This is my form of resistance and protest-- my expression. #blessed -- photo credit (@ericmtownsend )) THANK YOU!! 

A post shared by Imani Shanklin Roberts (@imaniniasr) on Sep 13, 2017 at 3:15am PDT

The mural is part of a tourism partnership between South African Tourism's US office, South African Airways (SAA) and bicycle-sharing platform Citi Bike, including branded bikes and bicycle docking stations.

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Simultaneously, the original BMW 525i Art Car was part of the exhibition "South Africa: the art of a nation" at the British Museum, highlighting her key role in South African art.

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