On the 1st of August, the Wits Art Museum opened a solo show by Swiss/Italian artist Nicola Genovese. The exhibition titled, Sad Boy explores masculinity and the decay thereof. The day before the opening, I had the chance to interview Genovese and gain insights into his artistic intentions and material choices. The artist contemplated the…
I have a thing for drummers. I’m obsessed with Max Roach, Art Blakey and Cindy Blackman. So when I heard that the South African drummer, Kesivan Naidoo who’s renowned for his collaborations with jazz legends like Bheki Mseleku, Louis Moholo-Moholo, Winston Mankunku and Miriam Makeba was in town, I was beside myself. Critics have hailed…
Woodcraft holds a strong presence in many communities and cultures around the world. For the people of Zafimaniry, which is a community in the southeast highlands of Madagascar, woodwork is not only a central practice among the people but is deeply embedded in their culture, livelihoods and belief systems. Quentin Clemence and Alice Weil founded…
The arts and sciences have been separated into distinct fields. More than that, art and science, particularly in Western culture, are often positioned as polar opposites – associated with either the left or right side of the brain, different sections on university campuses, and even gendered as masculine or feminine. These fields never seem to…
I sat down with Jill Richards in Melville amidst the sounds of a Thursday morning in a coffee shop courtyard. The gentle whir of a generator, the hiss of a steam wand, footsteps on the pebbled ground and quiet chatter between friends were the ambient noises behind our conversation; sounds I noticed only after they…
Known for his bold yet spirited work—Zürich-based artist, producer, DJ and vocalist—Xzavier Stone, can be recognised by his subtle and deft spins on rap and R&B music. Stone has a penchant for playfulness and experimentation. “Threading severe electronic music and sound design with harmony and an off-kilter sensuality, Stone offers up a mystery and tease…
Self-described as Switzerland’s next generation in dance, Company MEK is proving to be at the forefront of collaborative creative practice that strips back, subverts, and exceeds the limits of European dance. Learning about Muhammed Kaltuk and his company’s research trip to Senegal enlivened me and gaining insights into the company’s ethos, the ways in which…
Grant Jurius’ sonic composition Animal Skin, co-produced with the Lumpen station in Switzerland, is a progressive medley with fragments of conversation and snippets of the sonic cityscape. The work is arranged on a bed of persistent and low-frequency rumbling that crescendos into a contemplative and broody 19-minute-long melody. Sirens, laughter, drums, the clattering of objects…
Only that there were tears. Only that Quietness and Emptiness fitted together like stacked spoons. Only that there was a snuffling in the hollows at the base of a lovely throat…Only that they held each other close, long after it was over. Arundhati Roy, The God of Small Things Basel-based violinist and performer Alicja Pilarczyk’s…
“Art gave me freedom,” the artist Olaniyi Akindiya reveals on a Google Meet call as he quickly strings up pieces of cardboard. “There’s communication, dialogue among people that’s helped me open up the minds of a lot of people.” The Nigerian artist has been working in fine art for over two decades but began his…
Mali has a long tradition of weaving that has given a rise to its textile industry. The country is one of the world leaders in the production and exportation of ginned cotton fibre. It is also known for the production of Bazin, mud cloth and other hand-dyed fabrics. The vitality of this industry has offered…
Nigeria is a source of rich history and culture and its influence extends beyond its borders. Formed in 2013, the Emmy Kasbit brand aims to highlight and capture the heritage of Igbo people through clothes. The Akwete fabrics and prints that are redolent of old traditions serve as the backbone for the clothing label. Its…
