Bhaca Medium

The Bhaca is a completely personal and original range of stone planters that reflect ceramicist Andile Dyalvane’s connection to his Xhosa roots while celebrating his mastery of an elemental material of choice – clay. Bhaca- meaning scarification- is a Xhosa traditional method of finely cutting skin (usually on the cheeks) to mark initiation, clan identification or healing. Andile’s desire is to preserve and share his cultural roots of this ancient tradition by cutting into clay and pushing open the cuts where they intersect as if to open the flesh. The Bhaca has been electronically scanned and scaled from smaller clay vessels to form big impactful shapes made from stone that share this story with the world.