Artist: Thami Jali

Thamsanqa Rutherford (Thami) Jali was born in Lamontville, Durban, in 1955. From a young age, Jali was captivated by creativity in all its forms. School craft lessons sparked his imagination, leading him to create his own toys and later, functional items like ashtrays and spoons from wood and bamboo. Moving from Lamontville to Clermont, he befriended a draughtsman’s son, which further ignited his passion for drawing.

The motifs on Jali’s chairs and decorated boulders draw direct inspiration from Nukain’s stone garden. His depiction of objects flying in the air is influenced by surrealism rather than Christian iconography. Jali continues to explore and expand his artistic vision, driven by the imaginative and surreal elements that have defined his journey.