This past Saturday, the Poetry Readings and Conversation brought together Gabrielle Goliath and Maneo Mohale in an event organised by the Goodman Gallery in Johannesburg. Founded in 1966 during a time of unthinkable violence and segregation, seldom has the institution presented us with such profoundly embodied explorations of Black desire, sensuality, and queerness in art….
On opening night, I had the pleasure of engaging in a conversation with Stefanie Koemeda, one of Nirox Foundation’s latest artists in residence who was being showcased in the group show Layers: Rock Art Across Space and Time at the Wits Origins Centre. We had our talk just outside the Centre, right before the curator…
Last night was lit! The Standard Bank Gallery was filled with great vibes and beautiful people. The wine was flowing and we even got a little goodie bag! The size of the crowd was just right, not too overwhelming or chaotic. Present were some well-known faces, including the esteemed Gallery Manager Dr Same Mdluli. Alongside…
This month The Centre for the Less Good Idea celebrates its seventh year of promoting interdisciplinary, collaborative and experimental art not only in South Africa but also on the international stage. Season 10, running from the 18th to the 22nd, presented a revival of the Collapsed Concert and a reimagined version of William Kentridge‘s A…
On the 16th of September, Neo Matloga, whose relationship with Stevenson Gallery has been ongoing since 2020, opened his latest exhibition Figures at its Amsterdam locale. The artist was also present the morning after and as we entered the cosy space, well stocked with croissants, orange juice and champagne at the entrance, there stood the…
There was a time when Ayanda Mabulu had an open-door policy in his studio and oh what a time it was! One could often pass by the Media Mill space and find a number of artists engaged in vibrant studio practice or fervent discourse. Mabulu whose presence is both calming and commanding moved as if…
With a 2019 BFA from the Michaelis School of Fine Art, Bulumko Mbete’s career is on a steep upward trajectory. We’ve watched her navigate the art world with skilful finesse, infiltrating spaces that were thought inaccessible. She is the 2023 recipient of the Cassirer Welz Award and has just started her MFA at Carnegie Mellon University,…
In Mondli Mbhele’s inaugural solo exhibition, Ingoma Yothando, the artist delves deep into the intersection of African culture and the evolving lives of today’s youth. Translated from Izulu, “Ingoma Yothando” means “Song of Love,” yet it exceeds its romantic connotations, inviting us to contemplate a more profound inquiry: How connected are we, the youth, to…
“There is this burden that comes with being called a Black artist – I just want to be called an artist,” says South African-Zimbabwean artist, Richard Mudariki, one of the artists whose work is being showcased at the Zeitz MOCAA When We See Us exhibition. Zeitz MOCAA’s executive director and chief curator, Koyo Kouoh, along…
Having spent my morning watching Salvatore Vitale‘s video, I Am A Human (2023) on repeat, I rushed to our meeting at Emzini near Westdene Dam, still reeling from its lingering impact. In the café’s homely atmosphere, I began interrogating his work on contemporary societies, exploitation and digital technology, particularly within the context of Johannesburg. Opting…
In an episode of Art Angle, a podcast by Artnet News, art critic Ben Davis and Artnet’s European editor Kate Brown discussed the emerging trend of Hypersentimentalism. Based on Brown’s Artnet essay How a New Wave of ‘Hypersentimental’ Portraiture Is Serving Up Painting for the Age of Vibe Shifts and Nano-Influencers (Or: Why is everyone…
In a “post-apartheid” South Africa, sharing the stories of people of colour is necessary to challenge the representation of BIPOC in the archive. But who gets to create this archive? And more importantly, who gets to dictate the narrative of this archive? These are all questions photographer Tshepiso Mazibuko’s work contends with. Born and raised…
