The Calabashes We Never Drank Amasi From

This artwork consists of five calabashes and was inspired by the stories Mabona’s father shared about his childhood in the 1930s, growing up in rural South Africa. He spoke fondly of drinking amasi (Xhosa for sour milk) from calabashes. Symbols in the form of folding patterns have been cut out of the calabashes, with the cutouts replaced by sewn-in milk tetra packs. These elements juxtapose the different cultural experiences of Mabona and his father, while simultaneously creating a dialogue between Mabona’s artistic practice and his father’s scholarly work as an anthropologist, where one of the fields he explored was the significance of symbols in Xhosa culture. The convex, reflective aluminium elements in the center of the calabashes invite viewers to reflect on the relationship between themselves, their surroundings, and the artwork. The use of colorful threads and sewn-in tetra packs references the vibrant, multicultural aesthetics of South Africa, as well as upcycling practices, symbolizing the resilience of the South African people in making the best of limited resources.

Speakers embedded within the calabashes play audio recordings of Mabona’s father, including dialogues between father and son, excerpts from the exposé of his doctoral thesis in anthropology, and readings of his published poetry performed by Mabona’s relatives and friends. This auditory element draws on the Xhosa tradition of using calabashes as resonators for musical instruments (Uhadi) and their role in rituals to communicate with ancestors. The cylindrical pedestals on which the calabashes rest are inspired by the traditional rondavel huts of Mabona’s father’s upbringing, grounding the calabashes within the white cube space of the exhibition. This juxtaposition creates a sense of home and belonging in a context that is otherwise removed from the environments that inspired the work.