Project: !Kauru: Rerouting Dialogue 1994-2014
Event: Touring
exhibition project
Date: 22 May 2014 – 27 June 2014
Venue: UNISA Art Gallery Pretoria
Date: 22 May 2014 – 27 June 2014
Venue: UNISA Art Gallery Pretoria
The !Kauru African
Contemporary Art Exhibition opened on the 22nd of May at the UNISA
Art Gallery, to positive audiences. The !Kauru project has already brought
together Africa in 2014 through a variety of events, stimulating conversation
between international artists, dignitaries, embassies, academics, arts
professionals and the Department of Arts and Culture. Events which took place
in the past week include an artist’s meet and greet evening hosted by the
French Ambassador Elisabeth Barbier, the official exhibition opening at the
UNISA Art gallery, an Artists Walkabout and a stimulating Round Table
discussion. Facilitators who took part in the the Round Table discussion
included Prof.
Simon Mapadimeng, Ashraf Jamal, Bongani Mkhonza and Gordon
Froud.
The !Kauru exhibition will be
open at the UNISA art gallery until the 27th of June.
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This is the third year
of this project which aims to stimulate conversations within Africa and internationally to
facilitate a change of perceptions about the continent through its contemporary
art. Events still to come as
part of the !Kauru African Contemporary Art project include youth day
activities and a community outreach and development program. The youth day activities will be hosted by
UNISA’s Art Departments Students. A community outreach program includes
walkabouts for community art groups and educational institutes. Additionally
there will be a development seminar for up-and-coming artists by Art Source
South Africa, which will give them the opportunity to think strategically about
their career direction. 
In 2014 the !Kauru African
Contemporary Art project celebrates 20 years of South African democracy through
the voices of artists across the African continent. According
to !Kauru 2014 Curator Avitha Soonful “about unveiling the African truth.” This
exhibition explores the continent of Africa as an integral player within the
global village. Twenty artists from SADC and East African countries have been
selected to take part in the exhibition. Artists selected to participate in the
exhibition include Thame Kaashe from Botswana, Endale Desalegn from
Ethiopia,Patrick Rorke from Lesotho, Alpheus Mvula from Namibia, Pierrot Man
from Madagascar, Nirveda Alleck and Krishna Luchoomun from Mauritius. Three
Mozambican artists, Anesia Zefenias, Gemuce Pompillio Hilario and Lourenço Abner
Tsenane, Christine Chetty from the Seychelles and Mohau Modisakeng, Diane
Victor and Churchill Madikida ahowcasing from South Africa. Reheme Chachage and
Safina Kimbokota from Tanzania, Victor Mutulekesha and Kenneth Zenele Chulu
from Zambia. As well as Nancy Mteki and Israel Israel from Zimbabwe.
Project Director, Tshepiso Mohlala of Back2Back Experiential Marketing
says, “my vision is for this project to become a bi-annual event which will
showcase the artworks of top African contemporary visual artists, starting with
the SADC region. Thereafter touring four regions of the African continent.
Ultimately the future plans are to tour these exhibitions internationally”.
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Supported by the Department of Arts and
Culture’s international relations department, !Kauru provides a platform for
African contemporary artists and cultural practioners to engage around a
showcase of contemporary art from the continent. The strategy aims to
incorporate all the regions of Africa over the lifespan of the project, which
began in 2012. The project promotes
visual arts as a viable career choice and showcases the maturity and significant
contemporary art voices of Africa.
GALLERY
TIMES
UNISA
GALLERY
10am – 4pm
Mondays - Fridays.
Note:The gallery is not open on weekends.
For media enquiries:
or
UNISA Art
Gallery
Nana
Tshangana
012 441 5876