Andile Dyalvane

I was born on the 25th of September 1978 in the small town of Keiskamma Hoek in the Eastern Cape. I grew up in the small village called Ngobozana going to school after school and on holidays looking after my father’s livestock that way I spent time going to the mountains and playing in the fields, rivers and valleys playing games with other boys. By the river we would gather clay and make clay animals. At that time we did not know of the technology of firing the clay animals we made, so it did not seem as a career choice

I enrolled for a three year course at the then Sivuyile Art College in Gugulethu, Cape Town where I graduated top of my class. After receiving a scholarship, he enrolled for a ceramic design course at the then Port Elizabeth Technikon and graduated successfully receiving a national diploma in ceramic design.

My interest in working with clay is the ability to create something beautiful, valuable, usable out of a shape less piece of earth that worth nothing. Also clay allows me to express my self by letting me control to the direction I want go. What I find fascinating is the fact that I work with three elements of life, water, air and fire

The most technique I enjoy the most in building my pots is coiling and pinching, I like the process of molding the piece of earth into a perfect shape. I use electric kiln for firing because it is most convenient for me and my environment

The forms of my pieces are inspired by the traditional Nguni artifacts. The clay and wooden storage vessels, wooden meat platters and wooden head rest. The gracious simplicity of these forms is classical and reinterpreting them into contemporary art pieces for a contemporary lifestyle is an honour.

The surface treatment is inspired by an old African traditional called body scarification. It is used for both medicinal reasons and as body adornment.

I am also influenced by the strong clean lines and abstract imagery of cubism.

In 2001, I was one of the 9 ceramic designers chosen to go and represent South Africa in a 5 week exchange ceramic program workshop in Denmark.

I co-own Imiso Ceramics, a business that comprise of four young individuals from different design disciplines with the aim of incorporating the different disciplines to produce high end products.

I have been exhibiting in a number of galleries and received a few prestigious awards:

This year was the fourth time attending the Design Indaba Expo

1999 – FNB Vita award for the best piece of exhibition (from Western Cape region)

2001 – FNB Vita for best decorated piece

2003 – Cape Craft Design Institute (10 years of democracy) received 2nd price

2006 – Identified by the Cape Craft and Design Institute as a design icon in the Western Cape.

2006 – EDIDA International award in ceramic category by the Elle decoration magazine

2007 – Invited by the Canadian Government and the South African dti, to take part in Design Africa exhibition in the month of May.

2008- Exhibited in Milan, invited by company called Misael www.misael.eu to make pieces that are rooted and personal inspired.

In the same exhibited in Canada, in Design AFRICA exhibition,

2008 –I have work in ATLANTA, USA. Design South Africa, permanent trade hub.