By BRUCE DENNILL
In response to a national shortage of funding and resources in the creative sector, particularly for non-profit organisations and independent curators, the Johannesburg Stock Exchange’s Art Share Initiative strives to prevent the loss of essential arts infrastructure. It focuses on uplifting artists from underfunded non-profit art programmes who lack representation from established galleries, creating a vital platform for new voices and independent curators in the arts community.
“Fine Lines” showcases works by six leading and emerging South African and Mozambican artists, engaging with identity, history, and transformation. Kwandiwe Dlwati is one of these artists
What sort of training have you received and how important do you think it is to seek training (in terms of learning first principles and refining technique)?
I’ve received both formal and informal art training. Formally, I studied drawing, painting and art history, where I learned the importance of foundational principles such as composition, perspective, color theory, and anatomy. Training is important because it gives a strong technical base to build upon and a deeper understanding of how visual elements work together to convey meaning.
What is your principal medium, and why did you choose it?
My principal medium is collage combined with acrylic paint. I was drawn to this combination because it allows for both structure and spontaneity. Collage introduces layers of texture, and narrative elements – it gives me the freedom to integrate fragments of the world around me into my work. Acrylics, on the other hand, bring vibrancy, flexibility and immediacy. They dry quickly and can be worked in transparent or opaque layers, which makes them ideal for building depth and contrast within the collage.
I chose this medium because it reflects how I think and see the world – as a layering of experiences, materials and emotions.
Describe the techniques you use most? How complicated are your methods, and why is each step necessary?
I composes numerous portraits, often referencing people from my community, which I feels distorts and constructs reality. I construct these portraits from a few photographic images and from memory. The photographic images are merely references as I add my own realities, emotions, twists, movement and angles when constructing images. My technique forms an integral part of my artworks Although figurative in form, technique remains a central focus of my work. I combine abstract and realist elements, as I believes life contains both these elements this creates an interesting tension.
What technological tools do you use in your work?
I often use digital tools to support my creative process. For example, I scan or photograph collage materials and experiment with composition using software like Adobe Photoshop or Procreate before committing to a final layout on canvas. I also use
a digital tablet for sketching ideas and exploring color palettes. This digital planning stage gives me flexibility to test visual relationships and refine concepts before translating them into physical form.
Who is the single other artist whose style you most admire, and why?
The artist whose style I most admire is Robert Rauschenberg. I’ve always been inspired by the way he blurred the boundaries between painting, sculpture and collage. His ability to combine found objects, photographic imagery, and expressive brushwork created a visual language that felt both spontaneous and deeply thoughtful.
What I admire most is his openness to experimentation – he treated every material as a potential part of the artwork, challenging traditional definitions of what painting could be. That fearless attitude toward process and materiality has influenced the way I approach my own work. I try to capture that same sense of curiosity and energy, layering images and textures to build meaning and invite viewers to make their own connections.
Galleries and other traditional means are only one way of marketing art. What do you believe are the most important other routes, and what is the most important insight you have gained in that area in your career?
I believe that artists today have many other powerful routes to share their work and build an audience. Social media, personal websites, online marketplaces and community-based projects all play a vital role. Platforms like Instagram and TikTok have become especially valuable for connecting directly with viewers, collectors and other artists around the world. They allow for a more personal, ongoing dialogue about process and meaning, rather than just the finished product.
Why do you create? What are your stated goals in producing art?
I create because it’s the most natural way for me to make sense of the world and to communicate what can’t easily be put into words. Art, for me, is both a form of reflection and connection – a space where emotion, memory, and observation can coexist visually.