The “mark of shame” was a phrase used in 1911 to describe the empty spot in the Louvre where the Mona Lisa once hung after being stolen on 21 August that year. Before its theft, the Mona Lisa was not widely known outside of the art world. It wasn’t even the most famous painting in…
In this humorously peculiar sci-fi interpretation of the year 2020, director Caroline Viitanen explores the parallels between the year’s astrological events, the concept of rebirth and how the pandemic may have activated a mass-awakening, propelling us into The Age of Aquarius and the next 2000 years of “being in the light”. Africa Is Now Magazine The…
* This body of work was created at the Bubblegum Studio with Kgotlelelo B. Sekiti as the recipient of our Bubblegum Invites open call The three balloons is an extensive body of work that explores the generational and ongoing traumas of Black bodies, the everyday experiences of queer Black bodies and Black body’s ability to…
Often times, it is in the fires of war and crash-and-burn economic situations that art movements are forged. Some of the most famous Western art movements of the 20th century were in response to the wars and conflicts of the time, Dadaism and Surrealism for example. The former, especially changed art forever by becoming famous…
THEFOURTH gallery presents the insightful solo show by the esteemed multimedia artist, British born Alexander James. ‘Keep It In The Family’, is the very first product of the GorgeousFOURTH artist residency programme, a collaboration between THEFOURTH gallery and the Gorgeous George hotel in Cape Town, South Africa. Artist Rodan Kane Hart and interior curator, Maybe…
The news of The Fugard Theatre closing its doors once and for all is news that is layered in tragedy. It is tragic in its own right to see such a young, yet historic theatre close its doors, eliminating the possibility for unwritten stories to be told on its stage in the future. What to…
121 years after his death, there’s still “new” Van Gogh work to be seen! This exciting news follows the announcement that a French family which has possession of the artwork — Scène de rue à Montmartre — will be parting with it at a French auction house next month. It might cost close to $10…
I recently had a chat with Khanya Mashabela, curator at the Norval Foundation, about a group show she curated; Mixed Company (on view until 31st May 2021). My initial reaction to the exhibition was a discomfort with the title. The term “mixed” brings with it a number of complicated associations—thinking about ‘mixed’ as constructed through…
The decolonisation of art is a topic that needs to be paid more attention to with varying opinions on how to achieve it. From including African art in teaching syllabuses to holding exhibitions honouring African art and artefacts, decolonisation makes for a lengthy process. However, one of the first things we can aim to achieve…
It becomes a shame when life’s most profound truths are so widely shared, and in so many various forms that they almost become reduced to background noise. For instance: there are a million quotes and feel-good coming of age movies to drive across the point that life is about “the journey and not the destination”….
[in review] is an initiative taking place over 30 days in which 30 writers working in and around South Africa each wrote a piece reflecting on an artwork they felt resonated with them. The project, supported by Pro-Helvetia Johannesburg, is aimed at allowing art writers to have much needed breathing space and asked each writer…
Stellar winds from giant stars caused dust to form ripples — a whole lot of dust; oxygen, carbon, iron, nickel and other elements — and eventually some of it found its way into our bodies.[1] That which is above is like that which is below and that which is below is like that which is…
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