Paul Sibisi had his first solo exhibition in Durban at the African Art Centre in I 981 .The exhibition coincided with the visit to the Art Centre by Edward Lucie-Smith, who purchased The Banner. Personal convictions had prevented Sibisi from taking part in the Republic /)rt Exhibi­tion, but in an interview he said he did not condemn artists who had. This, I think, says a great deal about Sibisi: he has a great respect for other people and their opinions.

The exhibition consisted of 18 pen and wash drawings and was a major breakthrough for him. Previously known for his strong linocuts-evidence of his train ing at Rorke's Drift - he had learned a wash-away technique from Jean Powell of the Natal Technikon Art School. Lucie-Smith commented that Sibisi had:

"...created some powerful urban images, specifically contemporary images."

The paintings showed that Sibisi's subject matter had come through rather stereotypical protest expression to awider view of many aspects of urban life. Some examples are Love and Peace, Beginnings of Troubles, Wanton Destruction, Tragedy at Elsies River and Voices of the People. I remember his Red Meat Workers' Strike I and II as being strong and forceful paintings.

Paul Sibisi is an artist who likes to share his views and knowledge with others. This is demonstrated at the end of the catalogue, where he gave a detailed description of the new wash-away technique. I discovered his consuming interest in art from a personal experience, when he offered to guide me to a school prize giving in KwaMashu. He talked so much about his views of art that we ended up in Umhianga Rocks.

Paul was notified in December 1985 that he had been awarded a British Council Fellowship to study graphic printing techniques. He took up the grant in 1986 and spent six months at Firbank College in Birmingham. Before he returned home, and through his meeting with Edward Lucie-Smith, arrangements were made for him to have an exhibition at the Anderson O'Day Gallery in London.