While The HEAT Winter Arts Festival in Cape Town’s city centre has come to an end, some exhibitions are still available for public viewing until the end of August, 2024.
Spier Arts Trust and House Union Block have curated two compelling exhibitions for the HEAT Festival, highlighting current and former members of the Creative Block programme.
Under the theme ‘Common Ground’ – which explores the necessary conditions for social coherence in times of economic, ecological and political turmoil – Heat connected galleries, artists, performers, venues, collectors, theatre practitioners and epicureans.
Homecoming at Union House celebrates the growth of the Spier Arts Trust community. With Nando’s continued support, Spier Arts Trust has facilitated artists’ career development for the past two decades, forming close relationships and fostering a community of artists which shares with, learns from, and encourages each other. The Creative Block programme, which invites select artists to create individual works on a small blank block to be exhibited together in a rich and striking expression of contemporary South African culture, has formed a unique common ground between many artists and afforded them a regular income.
Homecoming focuses on a cohort of Cape Town-based artists and former participants of the Creative Block community. Each artist presented new work, including a Creative Block artwork, offering collectors an opportunity to own work by established artists.
Artists on view
Participating artists include Barbara Wildenboer, Dion Cupido, Elize Vossgätter, Elsabé Milandri, Khaya Sineyile, Kilmany-Jo Liversage, Lindile Magunya, Liza Grobler, Marlise Keith, Norman O’Flynn, Ricky Dyaloyi, Ronald Muchatuta, Selvin November, Shakes Tembani, Swain Hoogervorst, Tafadzwa Tega, Wonder Marthinus and Zemba Luzamba.
The second exhibition, Unfiltered, is at Sisonke Gallery at the Cape Heritage Hotel. In a world where art censorship is increasingly prevalent, Unfiltered will display work from artists participating in the Creative Block programme in an exhibition spotlighting art censorship. Subject matter such as political incorrectness, violence and sex are typically deemed inappropriate to draw attention to in public spaces but Unfiltered aims to give a voice to these silenced opinions by championing the authentic expression of artists.
Canaries in the coal mine
Artists play a crucial role in challenging power and speaking out against oppression. As journalist Dashka Slater explained, they are ‘canaries in the coal mine…[having] a special role to play in sounding the alarm and pushing back against the forces that want to make us be quiet’.
The artists featured in Unfiltered include Adrian Owen, Anthony Charles Morton, Andrew Weir, Cassian Robbertze, Chris Kriek, Effo Munguanzo, Elize Vossgätter, Ernest Fulani, Frank Coffie, Godfrey Mawethu Ntakana, Ilené Bothma, Jacob van Sckalkwyk, John Dickin, Judy Woodborne, Katherine Bull, Kufa Makwavarara, Ley Mboramwe, Lionel Tazvitya Mbayiwa, Lindile Magunya, Lizette Chirrime, Ludumo Maqabuka, Lynne Lomofsky, Madeleine van Manen, Makhosandile Mbuku, Mkhuseli Mramba, Mookie Chapman, Nicholas Hauser, Nkoali Nawa, Nosipho Nombuso Maseko, Paul Painting, Qhamanande Maswana, Ronald Muchatuta, Sandile Ashabangane Mhlongo, Sifiso Temba, Songezo Zantsi, Sue Greeff, Tharien Smith, Timothy Zantsi, Velile Soha, Wonder Marthinus, Xolile Mtakatya, Yael Feldman, Zandri Oosthuysen & Zolani Siphungela.
Together, these exhibitions find ‘Common Ground’ in championing artists as both income-generating professionals and beacons of authentic expression and questioning.
In a nutshell
Homecoming exhibition at HUB Gallery at Union House, 25 Commercial Street, Cape Town
Opening times: Mondays – Fridays, 09h00-16h00
Dates: 11 – 23 August 2024
Unfiltered exhibition at Gallery at Cape Heritage Hotel, 90 Bree Street, Cape Town
Opening times: Mondays – Sundays, 09h00-16h00
Dates: 11 – 25 August 2024
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