Artist Lwando Ngqungqe, 24, was mesmerized by nature as a 14-year-old umalusi in the Ntabankhulu mountains in rural in Ndakeni in former-Transkei.
That obsession is with him still, infusing his ceramic sculptures and bowls, his oil paintings, and prints.
We spoke to him about his creative odyssey from growing up in a village to the smart studio at Art Versatile Africa which works with big business projects.
“Art has always been part of me. It gives me hope and a reason to live,” he said.
His interest grew into a calling when he was a 14-year-old umalusi in rural Ntabankulu mountains in Ndakeni, formerly-Transkei.
Painting became his primary form of expression for his passion for livestock, landscapes, and wildlife.
Although he occasionally works with ceramics, his artistic instinct is firmly rooted in painting — where his emotions and ideas come alive on canvas.
“In many communities, livestock and landscapes are part of daily life, symbolizing survival, wealth, and tradition.
“Cattle represent status or ancestry, while landscapes carry stories of origin, belonging to our cultural heritage.”
He says his recent art works for this year’s heritage month titled Ploughing the Ancestral Land and Spirit of Savannah depicts rural African life and heritage through traditional farming while the other celebrates the continent’s wildlife and spiritual connection to nature.
He said: “Back in the village, we didn’t need alarms because the roosters, cattle, and donkeys woke us at dawn. We would rise refreshed, take the cattle out to graze in the fields, and spend time playing with udongwe (clay) — shaping it into cows, bowls, and horses.”
His early knowledge of art was shaped at Bonxa High School under the guidance of Unathi Feni, their visual art teacher, the only school in the Mount Frere district that offered art as a subject.
This foundation gave him the confidence to develop and explore his talent.
From there, he entered the fine arts department at Walter Sisulu University (WSU) and obtained his diploma.
Varsity sharpened his technical skills and exposed him to different art movements which broadened his creative perspective.
A turning point was meeting Litha Ncokazi, founder of Art Versatile Africa and former fine art lecturer at WSU.
Through Ncokazi’s mentorship, Ngqungqe joined the YES Youth Programme, a national initiative aimed at equipping young people with opportunities and employable skills.
What began as a temporary contract evolved into something greater when Ncokazi invited him to continue working with Art Versatile Africa.
The work changed his life.
“It has taught me so many skills, including entrepreneurship. It’s a privilege to be in an environment where my work is taken seriously, and where I can grow as both an artist and a professional.”
At Art Versatile Africa, he participates in workshops, team-building initiatives, and art mediation which nurture creativity while preparing young artists for the realities of industry.
Ncokazi said Lwando was disciplined and passionate.
“From day one, he has shown dedication and consistency. Out of the eight interns who began, he is the only one still here. That says a lot about his character.”
Lwando says his mentorship is about guidance, belonging to a community that values art as a tool for growth and expression.
Today, Ngqungqe is a graduate of fine art whose path embodies resilience, talent, and vision.
Under the mentorship of Ncokazi, he represents the voice of young artists from rural SA who are determined to shape their own futures.
