At the heart of South Africa’s tumultuous history, certain spaces tell silent stories – quarters once marked by confinement, separation, and control. In Reclaiming Quarters, artists Mary Sibande, Lusanda Ndita, and Hoek Swaratlhe reclaim these spaces, turning them from symbols of oppression into sites of memory, defiance, and resilience. Through a powerful collaboration with printer Sbongiseni Khulu, these artists offer a new lens on the history that shaped non-European lives during apartheid.
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This collective exhibition, held at David Krut Projects, delves into the notion of ‘quarters,’ as physical spaces and reflections of the socio-political systems that imposed racial hierarchies and dehumanised millions. The domestic workers’ quarters, migrant labour hostels, and segregated townships – spaces that once held people captive – are now transformed into visual narratives of endurance and transformation.
Each artist brings a deeply personal and poignant perspective to the exhibition. Sibande’s powerful exploration of domestic workers’ quarters speaks to the silent servitude imposed on black women during apartheid. Her character, Sophie, reclaims these spaces, wearing extravagant Victorian dresses that subvert the notion of invisibility. With layers of tulle, lace, and ruffles, Sophie is no longer a figure confined to her role, but an embodiment of dignity and endurance, challenging historical injustice.
In contrast, Ndita examines the migrant labour system, a force that uprooted men from their families and homes, thrusting them into overcrowded hostels designed to dehumanise them. Through his exploration of masculinity and familial history, Ndita honours the resilience of these men while critiquing the systems that fractured communities and displaced generations. His works incorporate artefacts such as his grandfather’s dompas and work permits, offering an intimate reflection on the impact of apartheid’s structures.
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Swaratlhe’s work shifts the focus to non-European townships, built hastily and inadequately after the passage of the Group Areas Act in 1951. These spaces, meant to entrench racial divisions, became vibrant hubs of community and resistance. Swaratlhe reveals how marginalised populations transformed their environments into places of survival, unity, and eventual defiance against apartheid’s harshest dictates. His multimedia works, combining photography, architectural plans, and found objects, remind us of the ongoing legacy of these spaces.
Opening on October 19, at David Krut Projects in Parkwood, Reclaiming Quarters invites viewers to reflect on the lasting impact of apartheid’s spatial control while offering new narratives of healing and empowerment. Through lithography, monotype, relief, and collage, Sibande, Ndita, and Swaratlhe have crafted a powerful testament to the human spirit’s ability to transform even the most oppressive environments into spaces of possibility.
In this exhibition, the artists will reclaim the past and reshape our understanding of it, urging us to reflect on the psychological and physical spaces we occupy today.
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