BY NELIWE NGUBANE
MBABANE — What happens when colour becomes a language and paint takes the place of words? For occupational therapist and visual artist Noks Nhose, the answer lies in flowing acrylics, bold textures and abstract creations that invite viewers to find their own meaning in every stroke.
Nhose’s artistic journey, which began as a personal creative escape during the COVID-19 pandemic, has grown into an exciting chapter in her life, culminating in an exhibition at Bahle Gallery in Mbabane, where her original paintings celebrate colour, movement and individual interpretation.
The exhibition, which opened on October 1, 2026, and runs for two weeks, showcases Nhose’s abstract acrylic paintings, offering art lovers an opportunity to experience her work and discover the stories they evoke.
Working primarily with acrylic paint, Nhose uses a fluid technique that involves pouring and guiding paint across the canvas, controlling its movement to bring the images in her mind to life. Rather than beginning with sketches, she allows her imagination to lead the creative process.
“I use acrylic painting, a technique of pouring and flowing the paint onto the canvas and controlling the flow to what I have in my head. There’s no actual sketching, it’s all in my head,” she explained.
Her approach gives each painting its own identity, with layers, flowing forms and colour combinations creating different visual experiences. The works are deliberately left untitled, identified instead by their size or colour, allowing viewers the freedom to interpret them through their own emotions and perspectives.
Nhose’s passion for painting developed during the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, when she began watching painting videos as a form of creative exploration.
For about a year, she watched and learned before eventually attempting to paint herself. What started as an experiment gradually became a meaningful artistic pursuit that has continued for approximately five years.
“I’m an occupational therapist who has been painting for about five years now, which started during the COVID-19 pandemic,” she said.
Despite her growing passion, entering the public art scene was not something she had initially planned. Her breakthrough came after her brother encouraged her to submit some of her paintings to Bahle Gallery.
The response was an unexpected turning point, with the gallery inviting her to hold an exhibition.
“The exhibition was a surprise to me too. I was encouraged by my brother to take some of my paintings to Bahle. I did, and I was called back with the news of an exhibition. It was validation that my art is really worth it,” she recalled.
That opportunity brought excitement and a demanding creative challenge, as Nhose produced most of the paintings featured in the exhibition within just three weeks.
“It was a lot, but I loved it,” she said, reflecting on the intense period of creating the works.
For Nhose, colour is more than a decorative element. It is central to how she expresses ideas, emotions and movement through her art.
By experimenting with different techniques, she creates visual diversity across her collection, with each painting carrying its own energy and offering something different to the viewer.
Her abstract style also means that no two paintings can be reproduced exactly, making every work a distinct expression of her imagination at the moment of creation.
Asked to identify her favourite painting, Nhose said she could not choose one over the others.
“I love all my paintings. They are all different since they are abstract. I could never duplicate a painting. They all just invoke something great in me and hopefully to the people I paint for,” she said.
This openness to interpretation is part of what makes her work engaging. Rather than directing viewers towards a single meaning, her paintings invite them to pause, reflect and connect with the colours and forms in their own way.
Although Nhose works professionally as an occupational therapist, her artistic practice provides another avenue for expression and human connection.
Both roles offer opportunities to engage with people, albeit through different approaches. In her paintings, colour and movement become tools through which emotions and ideas can be explored without the need for spoken explanations.
Her exhibition at Bahle Gallery therefore represents more than a collection of paintings. It marks the growth of an artist who discovered a creative voice during a difficult global period and found the confidence to share it with the public.
Through her bold use of colour, fluid acrylic techniques and untitled compositions, Nhose invites art lovers to look beyond what is immediately visible and discover their own stories within her work.
From watching painting videos during lockdown to presenting her creations in a gallery, her journey demonstrates how an unexpected interest can develop into a powerful form of personal expression.
For Nhose, the beauty of abstract art lies in its ability to mean something different to every person who encounters it — proving that sometimes, the most compelling stories are those that do not need words.
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