Nicholas Hlobo reflects on his heritage and identity in this preview of the upcoming "Johannesburg" episode from Season 9 of the “Art in the Twenty-First Century” television series.

"I think in English," says the artist, "which was the reason I found myself trying to
go into using the Xhosa language—to remind myself of where I come from."

Nicholas Hlobo was born in Cape Town, South Africa, in 1975 and grew up in Transkei, South Africa. His works on paper, sculptures, installations, and performances utilize rubber, ribbon, leather, and a variety of domestic objects to explore both his identity as a gay Xhosa man and issues of masculinity, sexuality, and ethnicity in South African culture.

Learn more about the artist at:
https://art21.org/artist/nicholas-hlobo/

"Johannesburg" from Season 9 of "Art in the Twenty-First Century" premieres September 21 at 9:00 p.m. on PBS.

Learn more about the new season at:
https://art21.org/season9