A Rare, Undeterred Sketcher in Jahunda’s Marvel : The Guy Art Official, Mthae.

“Born with spina bifida, and with urine and stool incontinence, conditions that have seen him using pampers since birth…”

As early as grade 3 while at Gwanda’s Jahunda primary school, he already exhibited quality skills and an artful hand in everything he drew that included a giraffe, hare and tortoise. So extraordinary were his artworks that his teacher was at one point left with no choice but to share one of his masterpieces with the whole school.

“The encouragement and admiration I received at that moment, kwanginika isithunzi ukubukwa komsebenzi wami ngaleyondlela”, he says.

This is the story of Mthandazo Ndlovu aka The Guy Art Official, a young man who is fond of depicting nature through his drawings.

Physically but not mentally haunted by handicap having born with spina bifida (multiple congenital deformity of the spine), and with urine and stool incontinence, conditions that have seen him using pampers since birth, Mthae says his love for art was largely influenced by his grade 3 teacher, Mrs P. Ndlovu and his friend Ngqabutho Khumalo.

“Disability is not inability, I mingle with people with my artworks without fear and by so doing I am shunning the misconception of ‘disability is inability”, he defies odds.  

His area of interest in drawing nature makes him stand out as unique especially considering that in the province he is one of the few who do this kind of art. Since art is broad with several distinguishing categories, he believes that it is important for one to focus on a particular area and do exceedingly well in order to produce fully baked projects.

Asked about what led him to focus specifically on nature in his drawings, he explains: “Imvelo ngabona kuyinto enhle emehlweni ami, drawing nature is one of the easiest tasks especially when you are good at mixing paints and you have a skilful way of using pencils. It’s quite interesting and attractive especially with different colours”.

Some of his drawings come from imagination while some he will be drawing real nature as he sees it. One of his noteworthy art drawing is the one where he drew what he imagined as described in the bible, this is where he came up with a piece of paradise as explained in the bible. His drawing resembled a beautiful paradise that no one has ever seen.

Propelled by passion for art, the undeterred sketcher says he carries his pencil wherever he goes. He mentions that at first his parents were not supportive of what he does as they could not understand why he was so deeply in love with art. Fortunately however, with time they learnt to appreciate and understand him, and resultantly, he was given more attention and support.

Through practice Mthae manages to perfect his art every day. While in grade 7, he ventured into the creation of artworks such as funny collages, portraits, paintings and landscapes. He says he used to do most of these projects for both qualified and student teachers who needed such works for their assignments. He used to earn a living out of his art where people used to pay for his works.

“I enjoyed doing projects for people, that made me so proud of myself and the talent I have and this was surely a great way of making money as I managed to support myself in terms of my life condition”.

The former volunteer at the Nkomwa Foundation Trust (NFT) mentions some of the challenges he faces. These include limited art resources such as drawing material due to lack of funds, and a place where he can showcase or advertise his works.

He acknowledges the chance he received when he once exhibited his works at the National Art Gallery in Bulawayo, unfortunately he says his works were not taken further perhaps due to the widespread of a deadly pandemic, Covid 19. His wish is to showcase his works at small and large galleries, specifically with the Victoria Falls in mind.

“Kungifaka isithunzi ukuthi lami ngingumuntu emphakathini ngomsebenzi wezandla zami”, he proudly concludes.