The African Art Centre had seen Trevor Makhoba's work before the Vulamehto - Open Eye exhibition in August 1990. He brought in two felt tip pen paintings. Watching Ancestors and an untitled one. and one untitled oil painting. Terry-Anne Stevenson and I were immediately impressed, but did not anticipate the dizzy heights that Makhoba would achieve in the following few years.

All major South African public galleries have since acquired his work. He paints in a flamboyant and professional manner, expressing deep and complex thoughts, with reference to the social conditions in which he lives but with no obvious political message.

Born in Cato Manor in 1956, Makhoba grew up in Umlazi and received no formal art training. This appears not to have inhibited his creativity at all, nor his technique - he works in several mediums, although mostly in oil.

Makhoba was selected to be the Standard Bank Artist 1996 - an award which is likely to elevate him to permanent status as one of South Africa's top artists.

Those who know the remarkable talents and the work of Trevor Makhoba have sometimes described his paintings as surreal, but Makhoba knew nothing of surrealism, let alone about Salvador Dali. His talent is from within.

  

Agony by Trevor Makhoba 1991