DESPOTICA

(Pic: An image from “Despotica”)

Mlu Zondi’s exhibition running in the KZNSA Gallery’s cinema.

In the KZNSA cinema, Mlu Zondi is exhibiting a performance art video installation titled Despotica. This was created from the Experimenta Series conceived during Zondi’s two months residency in Belgium in 2008 and first performed at Bains:Connective, Brussels. The video on exhibition at the KZNSA was produced in Johannesburg at the Bag Factory Studio in 2008.

Winner of the 2006 MTN New Contemporaries Award, Mlu Zondi is an artist of international stature. He has exhibited at Rodriguez-Amat Foundation of Contemporary Arts, Spain (2008); KVS, Brussels (as part of Faustin Linyekula, Carte Blanche, 2008); Seoul Performing Arts Company, South Korea (2007); along with a formidable schedule of national performances including the CAPE Africa Platform, the National Arts Festival, the FNB Dance Umbrella in Johannesburg and Jomba Contemporary Dance Festival in Durban.

“My work is a direct result of the frustrations in trying to find creative ways through which to express myself,” says Mlu Zondi. “As a performer with a theatre background I had to find a style that will not only expose itself in one genre but can actually be celebrated in a variety of artistic platforms. The works are my own confrontations with issues that haunt me … Suppressed emotions emerge during creations and performances that become therapeutic.

“I work in collages where things that don’t have a connection and associations get shifted around in the work until there is a connection,” he continues. “My works are organic creations and they never reach a point of completeness. Everyday they evolve to take new forms and shapes and everyday they grow. The objection is also to see how far they can grow and how they will look once they are complete. That challenge keeps me working all the time as there will always be new material to be added to the work and new structures to be included. That means I will never be out of work and will always have a space to crush my demons.”

Despotica runs until May 10. The KZNSA Gallery is situated at 166 Bulwer Road, Glenwood, in Durban. More information on 031 277 1703, fax 031 201 8051 or cell 082 220 0368.