Ucu alukapheli II, 2021. Rusted mild steel. 94x34x34cm

Ucu alukapheli II (2021), a rusted mild steel sculpture by Sandile Radebe that reinterprets an isiZulu idiom about breakups, symbolising the undying love for indigeneity.

Ucu alukapheli II draws from the isiZulu idiom ‘ucu luphelile’, which typically describes the end of a relationship, suggesting that the emotional connection is severed. However, in this sculptural work, Radebe negates this notion with the term ‘alukapheli’, meaning “it is not over.” Through the medium of rusted mild steel, Radebe expresses the indomitable and eternal love for indigeneity, positioning the concept of cultural identity and self-determination as enduring. The material itself, with its weathered texture, alludes to both the process of breaking down and the resilience of cultural ties that cannot be severed, no matter the societal pressures or colonial histories.

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