Artist’s journey from a homeless existence
A leg lost in an accident, sleeping on a bench - to an exhibition
ART has taken a former homeless woman from three years of life on the streets to studying fine art at Ruth Prowse Art School and to having her first sold-out exhibition at David Krut Projects at Montebello in Newlands.
A year ago Chuma Somdaka, 31, woke up one day on a bench in the Company Garden and had a yen to draw her friend’s face. She had the paper but no pencil, so she took a stick, lit it and made charcoal, to draw.
“Art means a lot to me. It has been a journey of a whole year,” said Somdaka.
Somdaka used to sleep on her drawings to protect them and that paid off because at her first exhibition at David Krut Projects on February 10, a collection of eight vividly coloured portraits was sold out, she said.
“Having never studied art, being at Ruth Prowse is a challenge. A good challenge, I welcome it, because it is my dream,” said Somdaka who is studying print-making, photography, illustration and painting this year.
She said she spent a lot of time at the city library where she went to write her blog www.mynameischuma.wordpress. com, which she began last November, and to read art history, of which Van Gogh has proven to be a firm favourite, “for his brush strokes and use of colour”.
She has experienced much trauma in her life, including surviving an accident which resulted in her right leg being amputated above the knee.
All colours are loved by her but “green is my favourite because it is peaceful, the colour of grass and trees. It is oxygen, life” said Somdaka.
The scholarship to Ruth Prowse was provided by Andre de Wit and the PA and Alize Malan Trust. additional funds were raised through the three exhibitions held at David Krut Projects, Montebello.
The last of the three exhibitions is on February 24 and all funds raised would be used to pay for accommodation at a city hostel, for food and travelling expenses, she said. – bronwyn.davids@inl.co.za