BLOWING IN THE WIND

(“Potholes” (detail) by Bongani Khanyile)

Blowing in the Wind - An Exhibition about Dreams and Disasters runs at the KZNSA from March 3 to 22.

“2015 has begun with a series of international tragedies which remind us that intolerance, fanaticism and violence are pervading our world,” says the KZNSA. “Very little has changed from the 1960s when there was a strong movement in cultural manifestations towards creating a more peaceful and tolerant society. Two sets of lyrics from the 1960s say it all. These are Blowin’ in the Wind by Bob Dylan and Imagine by John Lennon. The curatorial intention of this exhibition is to revisit these lyrics in the light of a half century where scant progress has been made - we still make the same mistakes and dream the same dreams.”

Several works on Blowing in the Wind deal with environmental and human exploitation issues including those surrounding the cornerstone of South Africa’s material wealth – the mining industry. William Kentridge, Jeanette Unite, Mary Wafer, Mthobisi Maphumulo are some of the artists working in this context. The prevalence of crime cannot be ignored and an installation by Andrea Walters reminds us of the media hype and frenzy around the Oscar Pistorius case.

Throughout the exhibition, there is a reminder of how people flock together in various situations where a critical mass can sway events. Vuli Nyoni’s fragile banners showing a murmuration of swallows and Icarus have many layers of meaning which tie the exhibition together.

The exhibition shows both new work and historic work, with other artists including Bongani Khanyile, Wonder Mbambo, Fran Saunders, Derrick Nxumalo, Paul Botes, Siobhan O’Reagain, Lerato Shadi, Akiko Nakaji and the portfolio of Images of Human Rights.

Blowing in the Wind - An Exhibition about Dreams and Disasters runs from March 3 to 22 in the KZNSA’s Main, Mezzanine and Park Galleries. The exhibition will be opened by artist, critic and Durban International Film Festival manager Peter Machen, and many of the artists will be in attendance.

The exhibition is accompanied by an extensive public education programme, beginning with an introduction to the exhibition at 10h00 on March 4 with curator Carol Brown, and featuring artists Mary Wafer and Jeanette Unite. A question and answer session will follow the talks, and those interested are invited to RSVP with Sumayya at the Gallery

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 or visit www.kznsagallery.co.za

Blowing in the Wind is a project of the KZNSA’s Social Art 2014/15 Programme, supported by the National Lotteries Distribution Trust Fund