THE local community was shocked by the death of wellknown Mbekweni artist Solomon Siko (42) just before Christmas.
He died in the Karl Bremer Hospital in Bellville on 21 December of a TB-related illness complicated by diabetes.
Siko was born at Sakkieskamp, Wellington, in 1965. He went to school at Langabuya Primary and Desmond Tutu Secondary (then known as Simon Hebe), and matriculated in Dimbaza in the Eastern Cape.
After matric he worked as a labourer on the construction of the Huguenot Tunnel in Du Toit’s Kloof from 1985 until he started to study art at the Community Arts Project in Woodstock in 1987 at the age of 22.
His first solo exhibition was held at the Paarl Museum in 1990 and he became a full-time artist in 1991.
In 1992 he assisted the Bhabhatane Spinners and Weavers as carpet and tapestry designer.
He developed into a successful artist and has exhibited widely, also overseas.
He has exhibited in Cape Town, Pretoria, at the KKNK in Oudtshoorn (1997), the Sasol art museum in Stellenbosch (Volkskas Atelier Award finals 1991), in Lisbon, and in Germany.
He is considered to have been a remarkably versatile artist, switching from charcoal drawings to vibrant watercolour, carving and oils.
His diverse subject matter included taxi ranks, street vendors, shebeens, townships and their inhabitants.
Over the past three years his health gradually deteriorated until his admission to hospital just before Christmas.
He is survived by his wife Nokuphumla and three children Avuvile (17), Andisiwe (14) and Lukhanyo (10). The funeral was held on Saturday.
