Tayhe Munsamy was born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa. She attended Goldsmiths University of London where she studied Fine Art and History of Art. During her time in London, her practice evolved to showcase works within the realms of speculative thinking, fiction, mythology, and folklore. Her practice weaves together her identity as a mixed-race woman and explores elements from the Coloured and Indian communities in South Africa. Storytelling that combines cultural specificity and historical archives with fictional features is evident in her work in written and visual forms – paintings, video, performance, and digital media – to unveil themes of creation, ancestral memory, transformation, and fantasy, to notions of the self.
Tayhe obtained her BA in Fine Art and History of Art from Goldsmiths University of London in 2020. She graduated with a First-Class Honours. In 2021, Tayhe was selected for the RMB Talent Unlocked mentoring program and group show at Everard Read CIRCA Gallery in Johannesburg with Strauss & Co South Africa. She continues to showcase her work in group shows around South Africa and internationally. Tayhe is currently completing her Masters in Contemporary Art Theory at Goldsmiths University of London.
TewasArt Africa: First it’s an absolute honour to experience your incredible work and collaborate. How would you describe your work?
Tayhe: My work is a celebration of my two cultures as a mixed-raced South African woman. It is warm, rich, colourful, and abundant. The art of magical thinking is something I strive to imbue in all my pieces. Mythology and folklore intertwine in my work with the personal and historical to create fantastical worlds. There is a richness in the narrative themes of culture and community that I always want to evoke.
TewasArt Africa: What’s the inspiration behind these two pieces, “And in this breath, I hold the magic of the moon and stars (sweet dreams)” and “Cleansed in Starlight under Jupiter”
Tayhe: A world is imagined where the rituals of life and the veils between reality and fiction are explored. Astrological mythologies are birthed in these pieces. I was inspired by the sacred ritualistic elements of invention and worldbuilding; the connection to the earth, womanhood, and the slippage to the celestial beyond.
In “And in this breath, I hold the magic of the moon and stars (sweet dreams)”, I was thinking about the mystical and the fantastical in relation to divine femininity and creation.
In “Cleansed in Starlight under Jupiter”, my mind was filled with the idea of cosmic creation – being cleansed in starlight akin to being baptized; and immersed. The colour yellow and Jupiter are significant as in Hindu mythology, Jupiter is the Lord of Light and is related to enlightenment.
TewasArt Africa: What’s the significance of the moon in “And in this breath, I hold the magic of the moon and stars (sweet dreams)?
Tayhe: The moons in this work are an ode to my grandfather who was called Moon, and my family name, Munsamy. It is a sacred, mythological connection to my family, my ancestry, and our history.
TewasArt Africa: What techniques/medium do you employ in your creative process?
Tayhe: My practice features both traditional acrylic painting and digital works. It always involves writing in various forms – short stories and poetry, that often inform my paintings and the mythological, traditional, and historical elements in the work. I also work with a blend of photographic references from my personal things with imaginative formations when creating the different worlds in my artwork.
TewasArt Africa: What was it like growing up in Joburg? What impact did it have on your identity?
Tayhe: Growing up in Joburg, my childhood was filled with memories of family. Traditions and celebrations surrounding food, music, and laughter, created spaces of comfort and connection. This sense of home solidified my sense of self. My connection to my mixed-race identity – of being both a South African Indian and a Coloured woman, was forged in my household. The nuances of my two cultures, their histories, languages, and the stories that come out of it, all inspire my artistic practice. My family in Joburg supported my growth as a woman and as an artist, and they are at the heart of all the work I create.
TewasArt Africa: You’ve moved back to London, how does this transition influence your practice and your ideas
Tayhe: Ironically, being in London further grounds my connection to South Africa. Being away from home and family forces me to think about my place in the world and the sense of separation. I continuously find myself returning to themes of home, connection, and creation. To close the physical distance, I find the need to express stories from my personal and cultural background in ways that celebrate themes of community and survival.
TewasArt Africa: What challenges do you face in your line of work?
Tayhe: Finding the time and funding to create work at the rate and scale that I want has been difficult. The pace at which artists are expected to work is increasing, but the creation of work takes time, money, and effort. Three things that an emerging artist like myself seldom has simultaneously. Making enough work to stay relevant and ride the momentum of visibility whilst staying authentic to my practice is a challenge I constantly have to navigate.
TewasArt Africa: What notable exhibitions have you been featured that defined your art career?
Tayhe: My most recent group exhibition at The Melrose Gallery in Johannesburg, “Quiet As It’s Kept” was a huge moment of artistic growth for me. The show allowed me to combine my love of storytelling, writing, painting, and performance. It was the first time I was able to share with audiences my process behind the painting. I shared a fictional folklore that I had written in an intimate performance that allowed audiences to delve further into the fantastical world I had created in my painting. The show helped define my confidence as a multi-disciplinary artist.
