Every art show has a press release that isn’t far behind, oftentimes both arrive together, either in a perfunctory email or at the space itself. When it came to Kapwani Kiwanga’s ‘Rudiments’ presentation at Goodman Gallery, however, this piece of paper was rather moot, largely because there wasn’t anything in it that the show, itself,…
Goodman Gallery prides itself on its unmatched stable of international artists. Recently, the leading gallery boasted Light Blue Violet, a solo exhibition by ruby onyinyechi amanze, an artist who divides her time between Philadelphia and Brooklyn, USA, considering multiple locations as home. The Johannesburg show was typically well attended. As visitors stepped into the space…
Opening on the 1st of September at Umhlabathi Collective, Ngiyobona Phambili, meaning “I (*will) see ahead,” marked Mlangeni’s return to the South African art scene after six years abroad. Featuring mostly landscape photographs taken between 2010 and 2020, the exhibition uncovered works that had previously languished in the dark—shining light on the lasting impact of…
Curating an exhibition, especially one as layered as Ngiyobona (sometimes *Ngiyabona) Phambili by Sabelo Mlangeni at Umhlabathi Collective, is as much a conversation as it is a craft. During a one on one walkabout with Kamogelo Walaza, the curator of the show, I encountered not only the logistical intricacies behind the exhibit but also reflections…
Opening days before Heritage Day, celebrating 30 years of South African democracy, We, The Purple at The Javett Art Centre at the University of Pretoria plays on Pretoria’s brand as the “Jacaranda City”, reflecting on events like #FeesMustFall and the 1989 “purple rain protest,” with themes of protest, identity, and land rights. In part thanks to…
Thanks to the support of Southern Guild, David Krut Bookshop, and Jonathan Ball Publishers the event, which took place on August 21, 2024, at Mamakashaka, Braamfontein included a conversation between the famous photographer Zanele Muholi and cultural theorist Ashraf Jamal. The occasion was to launch Muholi’s Somnyama Ngonyama, Hail the Dark Lioness, Volume II, which…
Vele everyone knows that kuyanyiwa emjolweni and Amaxelegu, directed by award-winning performer, theater-maker and activist Qondiswa James, is for those yearning for a piece specifically about the treachery of situationships in SA. A provocative play that took place at The Market Theatre in August 2024, thanks to the Market Theatre’s Play Development Programme, under Artistic…
As the 17th edition of FNB Art Joburg loomed upon us, the notion of obsession densely lingered in my mind. I’ve been influenced to know obsession as being negatively manic but time and observation has pointed to how it can serve as a powerful and positive force in the realm of artistic expression. When channelled…
For many, the art fair officially opened last night. For others, it’s today, but for the lucky few, art week has already been in full swing, with galleries vying for the viewer’s attention and only the strongest succeeding. Founded by painter Banele Khoza in 2018, BKhz Gallery, which began as a personal studio has triumphantly…
Reeling from the maddening maelstrom of this menacing city, I found myself waiting at Father Coffee in Rosebank, with enough time to feel reasonably ready to meet one of its most influential characters. I knew who he was, but now for a few moments, I had a chance to know him. Mandla Sibeko, the director and…
One could argue that painting is the most visceral form of art making because it comes directly from the artist’s hand and onto the canvas. There is no filter there. Once the mark is made, it becomes true. Buoyed by a preoccupation with this part of painting, I took it upon myself to pose personalised…
The annual #ThatsWhatSheSaid Celebratory Dinner, organised by Sematsatsa Library in partnership with iTOO ArtInsure, took place at Villa Arcadia, on August 15, 2024, to honour the artist Mary Sibande. The dinner featured contributions from women-owned businesses like Zamindlela and KGOPelo, which align with the initiative’s mission to amplify women’s voices in the South African art…
