It is the final week to view three exhibitions at the KZNSA Gallery, Durban.
In the Main Gallery, Senior Citizens, a solo photographic show by Lizzie ZiqubuM, as curated by Baja La Dhlamini Sidzumo. In the media gallery, 1:1 by Paulo Menezes and in the mezzanine gallery, Transfer, featuring printmakers John Roome, Sthenjwa Luthuli and Lungisani Ndlovu.
Senior Citizens
In Senior Citizens, Lizzie
ZiqubuM, "recognises Senior Citizens by putting Ogogo on the fore; women
who are often pillars of families and raise generations of children in their
homes and communities with little acknowledgement.
At the height of gender-based violence in South Africa where women and children become victims/ survivors of brutal crimes – raped, beaten, left destitute, or even murdered. This has been the saddest reality of our lives. Instead of projecting this plight, the photographer has taken a stance to portray elderly women in a celebratory manner where positive imagery is shared.
From a five-year-long documentation and archive of Ogogo (senior citizens), the exhibition showcases colour and black & white portraits captured from the neighbourhood and beyond where she has been. ZiqubuM is paying tribute to the treasures of our society. The show also aims at recognising the participant’s contributions, highlighting beauty, health consciousness, sensitivity, vulnerability and resilience of their existence with portraits of individuals born between 1917 to 1950." - Baja La Dhlamini Sidzumo (curator).
1:1
Juxtaposed to ZiqubuM's portraiture is Paulo Menezes' exhibition in the
media gallery 1:1. Inspired by the
surfaces of Johannesburg’s inner city – an experimental and nomadic study of
the African Metropolis at full scale ground level. This work aims to
investigate and develop new modes of rendering the built environment. The
works, both visual and textual, are the result of a sensory experience with the
surface of an African metropolis, considering these surfaces from angles of
image-making, civic movement and geo/topography.
Transfer
The printmaking tradition in KwaZulu–Natal spans decades and continues
to be a mode of exploration in the practices of young contemporary artists.
The legacy of the ELC Craft Centre at Rorke's Drift is partly based on printmaking. The range of processes and styles taught at the centre produced some of Southern Africa’s most influential artists including Sam Nhlengethwa, Pat Mautloa, John Muafangejo, Kay Hassan, Paul Sibisi, Lionel Davis, Thami Jali and Azaria Mbatha. Rorke’s Drift was a centre of tertiary artistic education for many black artists at a time when this was largely closed to black students. Following the closure of the fine art school at Rorke’s Drift in 1982 the BAT Centre in Durban continued the printmaking tradition from the early 1990’s, training the printmakers of today.
The continued use of printmaking as the chosen art-making process among up and coming artists in South Africa highlights its importance. Transfer is an acknowledgement of, and appreciation for, past influencers and the current younger generation, showcasing the work of veteran printmaker, John Roome and contemporary printmakers, Sthenjwa Luthuli and Lungisani Ndlovu.
KZNSA practices social distancing protocols and has a health and safety officer with training in Covid-19 screening.
Entrance is free. Operating hours: Wed - Sun, 09h00 - 15h00.
More information on 031 277 1705 or cell 082 220 0368 or visit www.kznsa.co.za The KZNSA gallery is situated at 166 Bulwer Road, Glenwood, Durban.