The Standard Bank Gallery in Johannesburg presents A Black Aesthetic: A View of South African Artists (1970 -1990), an exhibition that draws from the University of Fort Hare art collection. Presented for the first time outside of the Eastern Cape since 1992, the collection features one of the country’s largest holdings of Black South African artists working between the period of 1970 and 1990, leading to the first democratic elections in 1994 and thereafter.
The exhibition curated by Standard Bank Gallery manager and curator Dr Same Mdluli, features the work of black artists from various backgrounds, whose style and approach to artmaking are distinctly each of their own. Aiming to encourage a more critical engagement of these artists whose works have historically been neglected.
“These works are a great record of painful experiences, memories, and stories of black people in apartheid,” said University of Fort Hare’s national heritage and cultural studies centre curator Vuyani Booi.
Representing over 150 creatives and declared a National Cultural Treasure in 1998, this repository houses some of South Africa’s most revered artists such as Gerard Sekoto, George Pemba, Dumile Feni and Gladys Mgudlandlu, and includes a wide range of disciplines such as etchings, woodcuts, linocuts, serigraphs, drawings, paintings and sculptures.
Including a diverse selection of artists and traversing a cross-section of disciplines, themes and thoughts, A Black Aesthetic is an expansive exhibition that attempts to start to build a more comprehensive historical account, one that will hopefully encourage future generations to engage with our rich heritage in the visual and creative arts.
Entrance to the exhibition is free with walkabouts taking place on 23 February, 9, 16 and 30 March, and 6 April. All walkabouts will start at 11am.
