South African artist Esther Mahlangu’s 1991 design of a BMW 525i will be displayed at the Museum of Arts and Design (MAD) in New York City from November 17, 2010 – May 15, 2011. The BMW Art Car is a part of The Global Africa Project which explores the impact of African visual culture on contemporary art, craft and design around the world.
Esther Mahlangu uses the traditional painting technique of her African Ndebele tribe. The stylistically distinctive and well-known Ndebele patterns are created exclusively by the women of the tribe. Mahlangu is considered the leading representative of this art form, having achieved international acknowledgement for her work. Born in South Africa in 1936, Esther Mahlangu was taught the traditional painting technique of the Ndebele tribe by her mother. She upholds the traditions of her tribe and already began passing on her knowledge to her daughter many years ago.
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