Two rhino graze companionably alongside each other, recorded for posterity in watercolour harmony.  What makes this beautiful piece of artwork even more remarkable is that the artist, Daniel Mkele, painted it only using his mouth.  This was the painting recently presented to local rhino activist, Wayne Bolton, of the NPC One Land Love It.
 
Kevin Hustler, of the Strategic Development Projects at Nelson Mandela University Business School, became aware of Dan Mkele’s talent and was so impressed that he commissioned him to paint this piece specifically for Wayne Bolton.  

“I wanted to give him this piece of unique art as a gift to acknowledge the journey

he has travelled so far and thank him for his contribution to rhino conservation.”

Artist, Dan Mkele, a paraplegic, was injured in a rugby match in 1996 which led to his physical challenges. He only started painting after water colour artist, Ian Shaw, introduced art 15 years ago to residents of Cheshire Home Summerstrand (PE), where Mkele resides. Shaw even went as far as teaching himself to paint using his mouth to hold the brush so that he could teach Jackson Gqomo and Dan Mkele, who could not use their hands due to their disabilities, to become mouth painters.  Shaw has been teaching the residents how to improve their art with two additional volunteers – Liz Glass and Maxi Jachens.  These altruistic artists have given these men a gift and Mkele, who is passionate about art, finds that it gives a sense of purpose to his life and provides him a way to express his acceptance of life despite his physical difficulties. Mkele is sponsored by the Chris Burger Players Fund. 

This example of Mkele, an ordinary person achieving something extraordinary, a demonstration of someone using their talents and resources despite circumstances to make a difference, resonated with Hustler. He identified this in the message of Wayne Bolton who in the last two years has cycled 8000kms around SA for rhino conservation – raising funds for anti-poaching initiatives, creating awareness, and by example motivating and challenging others to make a difference.