Nicholas Hlobo is a South African artist based in Johannesburg, South Africa. He was born in 1975 in Cape Town and earned a Bachelor of Technology from Technikon Witwatersrand in 2002. He creates large sculptural works that are expansive masses which at once feel oozy, voluptuous and highly structured. The contrast of femininity and masculinity is created by his use of dissimilar materials such as rubber inner tubes, ribbon, organza, lace and found objects. In 2010, Hlobo was selected as a protégé by mentor Sir Anish Kapoor as part of the Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative, an international philanthropic program that pairs masters in their disciplines with emerging talents for a year of one-to-one creative exchange.
On the LOUIS VUITTON website, we read about the handbag cooperation: “Nicholas Hlobo’s limited edition ARTYCAPUCINES echoes Louis Vuitton’s Monogram canvas through a flower growing organically from the Capucines PM’s interior. Meticulously attached with hand-laced embroidery, the blue tones and contrasting texture stand out against the bag’s smooth black exterior to create a beautiful, handmade hybrid object.” The motifs presented here were produced by KENT & CO PRODUCTIONS in Johannesburg for photographer Paul Wetherell. GoSee : hlouisvuitton.com///artycapucines-pm-nicholas-hlobo-capucines