Not Just a Sperm Donor

Artists: Collen and Johannes Maswanganyi 

Title: Not just a sperm Donor 

My father Johannes Maswanganyi and I are father and son coming from  a wood carving family legacy in Limpopo. 

Johannes took a button from his uncle Piet Mafemani Maswanganyi who was a carver of functional objects like wooden plates, spoons, forks, Cooking spoons etc.

Johannes, continued with the legacy of carving but became more of an exhibiting artist that has so far exhibited around the world and his painted wood carvings are found in different collections.

As Collen Maswanganyi, I became a third generation artist following in the footsteps of my  father and grandfather. I studied fine art and  decided to continue with family legacy of wood carving to make fine art works.

Just like my father, I have exhibited internationally. I got features on CNN, CCTV, several international and local media features. 

The artwork “Not just a sperm Donor “ symbolises the trail of footsteps the Maswanganyi Family has. The wo fish represent myself and my father. These fish have the carving Adzes called Mbatlo in my Tsonga language.

The Adzes, are the most famous carving tools in the wood carving fraternity. My grandfather has used and made some for my father and his cousins. The Adzes I use, my father makes them for me. 

My father has made the rougher fish and I made the more finer one. With the artwork  we are saying, my father was not just a sperm donor like fish does but he took care of me from when I was born and made sure I learn the skill to take of my myself using the Adzes among others.