Christwish Mulunga, a Robertson-based artist originally from Zimbabwe, has gained significant recognition in the South African art scene.
He placed 50th out of 700 entries in the 2023 South Africa National Art Competition and won 21 awards, including five national ones.
Inspired by his painter father, Mulunga uses the Impressionism style to capture the beauty of Robertson and plans to start art classes for upcoming artists despite financial and venue challenges.
Christwish Mulunga (29), an artist based in Robertson, is making significant waves in the South African art scene. His talent and dedication was recently recognised when he placed 50th out of 700 entries in the 2023 South Africa National Art Competition with an impressive 21 awards to his name, including five national art awards.
“I grew up in Zimbabwe,” Mulunga shares. “My father was a painter. He inspired me and taught me to paint.” His artistic journey began early.
Mulunga’s dedication to art bore fruit early on. He received his first award at the age of 10, while he was in Grade Four.
Over the years his participation in various competitions has led to a collection of 21 awards, five of which are national. “These mean the world to me. I feel they are an expression of my hard work.”
Discussing his artistic style with Standard & Breederivier Gazette, Mulunga said: “I use the Impressionism artistic style, whereas most artists fight over realistic artistic styles.” Impressionism, a painting style that developed in France during the mid-to-late 19th century, is characterised by small, visible brush strokes, unblended colours and an emphasis on natural light. This style allows Mulunga to capture the essence of his surroundings.
“Robertson is a beautiful town,” he explained. “I draw my inspiration from it, and its beauty is mostly expressed through my paintings.”
Future
Looking ahead, Mulunga has both short-term and long-term plans to nurture his passion for art and support upcoming artists.
“I want them to be more than me,” he emphasised passionately. Mulunga’s long-term vision includes opening art galleries in South Africa and Zimbabwe. “My long-term plans are to open an art gallery here in South Africa and another one back home in Zimbabwe,” he said.
Art enthusiasts will soon have the opportunity to experience Mulunga’s work first-hand, as he will showcase his paintings at the McGregor First Fridays of the Month Bazaar.
Christwish Mulunga’s journey from a young boy in Zimbabwe to a celebrated artist in Robertson is a testament to his passion, hard work, and the profound influence of his father.
