(Michael Selekane, The
bikers, 2014, ink on paper/ silk screen)
The Durban Art Gallery’s current exhibition: South African Art: a retrospective
exhibition of contemporary art in celebration of freedom to; create, to inspire
and to push boundaries is curated by Bongi Bengu and Lunga Khumalo in collaboration with the
Durban Art Gallery in continuation to celebrate South African arts.
The show is partly envisaged to celebrate 21 years of political freedom
and to illustrate variations in the country’s creative industry. Also to
celebrate artists who, through their art, commented and fought against
apartheid injustices. It also serves to highlight the wave of aspirant artists
who are taking the proverbial baton to use art as a tool for social, political
and economical transformation as presented in the country’s constitution.
The exhibition
features works from 1994 to present – however, this period is not a limitation,
nor an exclusion of works that were executed before this time. The focus on
works from 1994 is a starting point to the discourse presented in the
exhibition. The layout interrogates the validity of the political change in the
lives of ordinary citizens: freedom from political shackles, youth
unemployment, issues of Xenophobia/Afrophobia, HIVAIDS, Sports, housing etc.
Artist featured in
this exhibition include: Sue Williamson - Truth
games, the Biko testimony 1998, Zamani Makhanya - Divine intervention 2003, Lola Frost - Inscribed in rhetoric progress and democracy undated, Pitika Ntulivarious sculptures 2014 and 2015, Bongi Bengu - Journey I and Journey II, Mary Sibande- All
is not lost 2013, Michael Selekane The bikers, 2014 and others.
South Africa has
come far since the first democratic elections of 1994. Progress has been
achieved in many spheres, including access to water, electricity, sanitation
and housing. But much still needs to be done so that all people in South Africa
enjoy better life.
When it comes to
freedom of speech, artists use their creative skills to express themselves
freely, this is reflected in the work by Lola Frost, Inscribed in Rhetoric (Progress and Democracy) which looks at
issues of how far are artists, journalists, and members of parliamentcan oppose
or agree with government policies and actions.
Frost’s work was a
precursor to many events where artists faced the ‘’iron hand’’ where they faced
censorship of their work - ironically this was a tool that was used by the
former Nationalist government to subject people to its propaganda and to
suppress free-thinkers. The work invites the viewer to think and question the
progress made in all spheres of life: issues of housing, job creation, poverty,
terminal diseases and global competition. These are aspects that are new for
the country - hence it is not surprising for many commentators to criticize
rather than provide solutions and for the government to be defensive in its
decisions if and when they go wrong.
Sibande’s work
provides hope that new ideas can improve the situation - as can be seen in
Daniel Mosako’s collages: Women in mining I and II where the figures portrayed
are not in overalls but in designer business suits carrying a laptop = symbol
associated with being an executive business person. On the other hand the
figure carries a pick or a shovel = suggestive to hard work/hard labour
associated with work in the mines.
Michael Selekane’s
work the Bikers traces its
originality to works by Gerard Sekoto, John Mohl, George Pemba and Gerald
Bhengu all portrayed their subject’s life in urban areas as about being in
constant motion, always in a hurry. The
Bikers reference that in post-apartheid South Africa as not having changed
much.
Positive strides
include seeing a new trend of Black artists winning art competitions and taking
centre stage in the art world. We are also seeing a greater number of black
female artists gaining greater recognition within the global art community.
There has also been a shift away from traditional mediums such as painting,
photography, printmaking, sculpture and new media.
There will be a walkabout on July 30 at 11h00 and
entry is free. A seminar will also be held on August 20.
South African Art: a
retrospective exhibition of contemporary art in celebration of freedom
to; create, to inspire and to push boundaries will run in the Durban Art
Gallery’s Circular exhibition hall until August 29.
For more information
contact: Thulani Makhaye on 031 311 2268, Fax: 031 311 2273 or email Thulani.Makhaye@durban.gov.za
Posts
