KUNYE COLAB
Artist Biography
Kunye Colab is a South African collaborative artist rooted in the belief that creativity becomes more powerful when it is shared. Founded by Dirk and Katlijn Durnez in Cape Town, Kunye takes its name from the isiXhosa word meaning “together” - a principle that lies at the heart of its artistic identity. Bringing different creative minds, skills and experiences into a shared process, Kunye challenges the traditional idea of the artist as a solitary maker.
Working primarily in sculpture, Kunye brings together artistic vision, craftsmanship and contemporary production methods. Its works move between traditional sculptural processes and new technologies, allowing handcraft and innovation to exist side by side. Materials range from bronze and metal to Ecostone, bio-based resins, recyclable materials and natural, water-based finishes.
Collaboration is fundamental to Kunye’s creative language. Artists, sculptors and skilled makers contribute different perspectives and abilities to the development of a work, creating an environment in which ideas can evolve through experimentation and exchange. This approach also creates opportunities for emerging artists to work alongside more experienced practitioners, sharing knowledge while developing their own creative voices.
Sustainability forms an important part of Kunye’s practice. The collective continually explores materials and processes that can reduce the environmental impact traditionally associated with sculpture production. Eco-conscious resins, recycled plastics, water-based pigments and alternative casting methods are considered alongside enduring materials such as bronze, allowing material choice itself to become part of an evolving creative conversation.
Kunye has contributed to ambitious sculptural projects including Olivia Dunckley’s The Sound of Water, Vuyo Oyiya’s The Crown Chakra and David Griessel’s The Traveling Hermit. Its work has also been presented through major South African art platforms including the Cape Town Art Fair, Turbine Art Fair and RMB Latitudes, as well as through galleries, pop-up exhibitions and collaborative projects.
At the heart of Kunye is the idea that individual voices do not disappear when they come together — they become part of something larger. Its visual identity itself bridges African and European cultural references, reflecting an ethos of unity through difference. Through collaboration, experimentation and a respect for craftsmanship, Kunye creates contemporary sculpture that celebrates both the individuality of the handmade object and the collective energy from which it emerged.
Artist Statement
Individually Handcrafted. Inherently Original.
We believe in the power of creating together. Kunye means “together”, and this idea defines our practice. By bringing different artists, skills, materials and ways of thinking into one creative process, we allow ideas to evolve beyond what any one person might have imagined alone.
Our sculptures combine artistic, artisanal and manual processes. We work across traditional craftsmanship and contemporary technologies, experimenting with materials and methods while remaining conscious of their environmental impact. For us, innovation is not about replacing the hand of the maker, but expanding the possibilities available to it.
Every Kunye sculpture is individually handcrafted and finished. Works within a series may share an artistic concept, composition and visual language, but individual elements are shaped, positioned, assembled and finished by hand. Variations in form, spacing, texture, patination, oxidation and surface treatment therefore give every sculpture its own character and identity.
We do not see these variations as imperfections. They are evidence of the creative process and an essential part of the authenticity of the work. The human hand leaves its presence in each sculpture, ensuring that even within a shared series, every work remains individually distinguishable.
Ultimately, Kunye is about connection: between artists and makers, traditional skills and new technologies, African and European influences, and creativity and responsibility.
No two Kunye sculptures are ever exactly the same. Each is handcrafted. Each is individual. Each is original.