CLOSE, a contemporary art exhibition presented by the !Kauru Contemporary African Art Project, is curated by Zingisa Nkosinkulu (South Africa), Violet Nantume (Uganda) and Nyambura M. Waruingi (Kenya).
This exhibition features the work of 11 artists from the African continent and the diaspora. They are: Lungiswa Gqunta (SA), Yaye Kassamali (Kenya-USA), Stacey Gillian Abe (Uganda), Lady Skollie (SA), Jenny Nijenhuis (SA), Henry “Mzili” Mujunga (Uganda), Nondumiso Msimanga (SA), Athi-Patra Ruga (SA), Neo Musangi (Kenya), Minette Vári (SA), and James Muriuki (Kenya).
The overarching theme of CLOSE is proximity. The artists explore this theme through personal self-reflective pieces, as well as work that poses universal questions and offers nuanced complexity.
Within the context of understanding that proximity results in tension, some of the underlying concepts included in the discussion on proximity include; the space between people, things, perspiration, violence, discomfort, gender binaries and breathlessness.
In a press release, !Kauru said due to the continuing awakening of people all around the world there has been a wider gap between the narratives of the female and male bodies. As the idea of closeness continues to be redefined, there is a discomfort created which is exactly what this project seeks to examine.
“The project seeks to rupture the fabric of society in order to find space to breathe and speak about tension. Although the concept of closeness can be explored in a personal, more self-reflective mode, the artists will also bring us closer to the more nuanced, universal questions and are invited to present artworks that offer a critique of and proffer different views from the spaces they may necessarily occupy,” it said.
!Kauru is in its seventh year and seeks “to promote cultural diversity and stimulate discourse about issues affecting the continent using contemporary visual arts”.
CLOSE opens on Thursday, 24th May 2018, 6 pm and will run until 24th June 2018. Entrance is free.
For exhibition information please contact Colin Groenewald at coling@joburg.org.za or 011 725 3184.
Gallery Hours: Tue-Sun, 10am-5pm