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…
South Africa has a very distinctive photographic flavour and its titans include Santu Mofokeng, Sabelo Mlangeni, and Ernest Cole to name a few. All of whom were either mentors or influences for Lindokuhle Sobekwa, a renowned photographer, whose work is a continuation of this long legacy. Today, I spoke with Sobekwa about winning the 2023…
It’s been 30 years since South Africa entered democracy and legislatively ended the apartheid regime. New language accompanied the entering into this new territory, named the Rainbow Nation. Within it lay multiracial schools, ubuntu, born frees and coconuts that served as a bridge to reconciliation. The last ten years (marked by the Fees Must Fall…
Studio Fumo is not just any art collective; it’s a nexus of art and activism, dedicated to exploring and challenging social codes through innovative and provocative means. Operating at the intersection of public art and what they term ‘public glitch’ entails, Studio Fumo pioneers new formats in art with a focus on social change. I…
Last Saturday, Monotypebabe also known as Lebogang ‘Mogul’ Mabusela gave a walkabout at Bag Factory Artists’ Studios of her solo exhibition iVum Vum. The exhibition presented Mabusela’s monotype prints and drawings which explore SA’s car culture and Black masculinity. It opened on May 4, 2023, with a monoprint workshop held on May 26 during the…
In case you missed it, It wearies me; you say it wearies you an exhibition by Tatenda Magaisa opened on the 18th of May 2024. It wearies me; you say it wearies you, is the second sentence of the Shakespearean play The Merchant of Venice. This statement reflects the sombre realisation of one’s acceptance of…
Songezo Zantsi is a Cape Town-born visual artist whose second solo exhibition, Iyabulela Ilali, hosted by Vela Projects, runs from the 12th of July to the 10th of August. Through his paintings, Zantsi captures powerful moments of human interaction with the focused intention to “create a visual archive of life in South Africa.” The exhibition…
The exhibition “A House is not a Home…” at the KZNSA Gallery which closes on 14 July, delves into the multifaceted concept of home through the works of over 30 exhibiting artists. This Q&A feature engages with six of the artists—Sphephelo Mnguni, Londiwe Mtshali, Siviwe Jali, Jess Bothma, Rachel Baasch and Lusanda Ndita—to explore their…
Recently, I had the opportunity to engage with Swiss Photographer Ianne Kenfack, who embarked on a research trip in Abidjan from 27th May 2024 to 10th June 2024. During our interview, she explained that her primary focus was to document her peers — what she described as “a photographic story of young African creatives living…
It seems apt to trek across the land on a brisk Sunday morning to attend an exhibition themed around the duality between work and play. On the 23rd of June 2024, we were invited to witness KO GAE, the result of the collaborative residency at NIROX Sculpture Park between artist Oupa Sibeko and curator Kamogelo…
Let me preface this by saying I actually had a bloody good time at this year’s RMB Latitudes Art Fair, but not for the reasons one might expect. One of the best parts of going to fairs is rubbing shoulders with loads of interesting and inspiring people and this fair was no different. I saw…
