Owen Ndou

Owen began to carve as soon as he had finished his schooling.  He persuaded his older brother, Goldwin, who had been working for the railways for several years, to return to Venda to help him with his carving.

Goldwin and Owen work very closely together and when they first started carving they would often work on a sculpture jointly.  Presently, although they work in close conjunction with each other, they carve individual sculptures.

The themes that they deal with have nostalgic references to past times - beasts contesting territories and animals fighting for survival.  Themes are also drawn from the bible.  Characteristics of their work is a love for extremes, drama, survival and humorous fantasy.

The brothers are the most productive artists in Venda.  The ability to create innovative images at a steady rate is one of their greatest talents.

EXHIBITIONS

1992    The Everard Read Contemporary Gallery, Johannesburg

1991    ‘Town Country’ - Group exhibition at The Everard Read Gallery

            Group exhibition at the  South African Association of Arts, Pretoria

1990    ‘Afrika Now’ - Group exhibition at the Sanderling Gallery

            ‘Art from South Africa’ - Group exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art, Oxford and touring England 

1989    ‘African Arts Festival’ - Group exhibition, University of Zululand

            Group exhibition at the South African Association of Arts, Pretoria

1988    ‘Venda’ - Group exhibition at the Sanderling Gallery

            Group exhibition at the South African Association of Arts, Pretoria

COLLECTIONS

University of Bophuthatswana

University of the Witwatersrand