Material Resonance and Historical Narratives: The Art of Ndivhuho Rasengani

Born and raised in South Africa, Ndivhuho Rasengani is a sculptor, designer, and creative consultant whose work embodies meditation, praise, and alignment. His artistic journey is supported by a rich blend of academic and practical experience, including an MFA in Sculpture from the Rhode Island School of Design (2021) and an Honours in Bachelor of Architectural Studies from the University of Cape Town (2018). Rasengani’s numerous accolades, such as his inclusion in the Wheaton Arts Museum collection and fellowships from the Association of Independent Colleges of Art & Design and the Pilchuck Glass School, attest to his talent and dedication.

Rasengani’s creative style integrates various design mediums to establish holistic connections between materials and everyday objects. His sculptures, installations, and functional pieces explore transformation and construction through deconstruction, with a keen awareness of light as both a material and transformative agent. His innovative approach reshapes industrial materials and images to highlight Afrocentric histories and stories.

Ndivhuho Rasengani’s most recent independent work, “Resound Now,” is a striking exploration of material resonance, space, and structure. This intricate piece features an interplay between the rigid and porous nature of steel and the delicate, translucent qualities of glass. Rasengani meticulously fabricates the spatial models using steel rods and beams, which he carves and welds with precision. The glass is then carefully slumped over the steel armatures, draping and contorting to form glistening nodes that appear both fragile and robust.

In “Resound Now,” the visual impact is heightened by the contrast between the steel’s solid, industrial presence and the glass’s ethereal, fluid form. The steel framework serves as a skeletal structure, supporting the glass in a delicate balance that emphasizes the tension between strength and fragility. Each glass node captures and refracts light, creating a dynamic interplay of shadows and highlights that adds to the piece’s spatial complexity.

The conceptual depth of “Resound Now” lies in its ability to convey a sense of movement and transformation. The glass appears to be in a state of constant flux, echoing the natural processes of growth and decay. This work not only showcases Rasengani’s technical prowess but also his ability to imbue his sculptures with profound artistic meaning, making it a significant addition to his oeuvre.

One of Rasengani’s most renowned works is “Dwell in the Light,” a collaboration with Ashley Harris exhibited at the Socrates Sculpture Park in 2023. This piece exemplifies his artistic philosophy, tracing the park’s evolution from its origins as the ancestral land of the Lenape, Carnarsie, and Matinecock Peoples, through its phase as a dumpsite, to its transformation into an art space. The concrete bases of the sculptures display gradient hues and impressions of elements such as rope, native grasses, and leaves collected from the park’s vibrant ecosystem. These sculptures, forged from a fusion of found materials, pivot and morph in response to natural forces like wind and rain, as well as human interaction. Through unique material connections, these works intertwine narratives of history and landscape.

Ndivhuho Rasengani’s artistic practice showcases his profound understanding of materials and space while reflecting his respect for history and culture. His works invite viewers to explore the interplay between light and objects and to feel the resonance of history and nature through interaction. By weaving together various elements and narratives, Rasengani creates pieces that are not only visually compelling but also rich in meaning and context. His contributions to the art world continue to inspire and captivate, marking him as a significant figure in contemporary sculpture and design.