(An archival
photograph of the KZNSA)
The KwaZulu-Natal Society of Arts celebrates 20 Years in
Glenwood. Founded 110 years ago the KZNSA has resided at its current address
since 1996. On May 12, 1996, Ben Ngubane, South Africa’s first democratically
elected Minister of Arts and Culture, opened the building and the organisation
plans to celebrate the 20-year anniversary of this occasion by hosting a
four-week exhibition.
Opening tomorrow (May 24) at 18h00 with the Anniversary
Party, the Exhibitions will run until June 19.
Walters & Cohen – Mezzanine Gallery: In 1994 an international
competition was held to select a design for a gallery for the KwaZulu-Natal
Society of Arts. Michál Cohen and Cindy Walters, who had just graduated as
architects from UKZN, submitted the winning design, and have gone on to
establish a prestigious architectural practice in London, Walters and Cohen.
The brief was for a community art gallery that would
encourage and promote young artists and create a vibrant and stimulating
environment in which to exhibit work from around South Africa. The project
called for collaboration with local artists who made up the client body. The
success of the project depended on a building that achieved maximum flexibility
within a very limited budget and a detailed understanding of the local climate.
20 years later the building remains contemporary, robust,
flexible and aesthetically pleasing, and goes a long way to represent the
identity of the organisation and its drive towards a dynamic and transformed
future.
For the anniversary the KZNSA are exhibiting original design
drawings and sketches by the architects, an audio-visual celebrating the key
contributors to the building project and video footage from the 1996 opening
event.
Local Area Plan – Main Gallery: Keeping with the theme of
architectural work, urban design and local pride, the Main Gallery hosts the
work to date on the eThekwini Local Area Plan, a project of eThekwini Economic
Development and Strategic Planning.
The purpose of this Local Area Plan (LAP) is to create a
vision and framework to direct the regeneration of the Inner City of eThekwini.
The Local Area Plan will provide the primary spatial vision for the Inner City
area and become a co-ordinating and integrating tool that directs municipal
department activities and expenditure and provides the private sector with
direction and confidence in the future growth of the area. The LAP describes,
in writing, pictures and drawings, the potential future of the Inner City,
giving reasonable certainty and predictability for potential investors,
developers, business owners and landowners, and attracting future residents and
tourists. Whilst the purposes of the Plan are many, it primarily gives a clear
direction for positive change, indicating what is appropriate and necessary to
revitalise the City.
As part of this exhibition, KZNSA has commissioned 10
emerging artists, architecture students, street artists and architects to
create drawings and visual art in response to the LAP. Artists include Durban
illustrators Nindya & Nikhil Tricam, architect Paul Mikula, street artists
Mookie Chapman, Sakhile Mhlongo and Sphephelo Mnguni, UKZN architecture
students Dhiantha Achary, Oyedeji Tomi and Ryan Sutherland and visual artist
Derrick Nxumalo.
Andrew Verster Tribute – Park Gallery: In 1996 the opening
exhibition at the Glenwood KZNSA was a body of work by one of Durban’s most
beloved artists, Andrew Verster. For the anniversary exhibition the KZNSA have
gathered Verster pieces from the Tamasa Gallery and other private collections
to create a moving tribute to the artist.
DUT Anniversary Logo Design Project: A collaboration with
the Durban University of Technology Faculty of Arts & Design resulted in
3rd year graphic design students being tasked, as part of the academic
programme for the year, to develop and produce an anniversary logo and campaign
for the KZNSA. A selection of the best work was presented to the gallery and
designs by Karl Ludick and Rebecca Buxton were chosen. The students were then
commissioned to resolve their designs into finished products for the
anniversary campaign.
KZNSA has a long history of striking mural art on its Bulwer
Road frontage for the public to enjoy as they drive and walk by. Ewok (Iain
Robinson) painted the very first mural 20 years ago and returned to create a
piece for the anniversary; work has begun and will include the new anniversary
logo.
Walkabouts, panel discussions and presentations will be held
as part of the education programmes for each show – programme to be confirmed.
The Anniversary Exhibition will run until June 19 at 12h00. The KZNSA Gallery is situated at 166 Bulwer Road, Glenwood,
in Durban. More
information on 031 277 1705, fax 031 201 8051 or cell 082 220 0368 or visit www.kznsagallery.co.za
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