Exhibition captures spirit of 20 years of democracy

From haunting images of the scourge of Aids, to emotional pictures of diversity in South Africa, the Johannesburg Art Gallery unveiled their latest exhibition on 25 May.

The thought-provoking exhibition, Over the Rainbow was curated by the gallery’s Musha Neluheni and comes as South Africans continue to celebrate the milestone of 20 years of democracy.

At the heart of the exhibition is the notion of a rainbow nation and questions around whether or not the idea remains relevant 20 years later.

Also included in the exhibition were haunting images from the horrific genocide that took place in Rwanda in 1994, which was also commemorated this year.

Neluheni added that the exhibition tackled serious issues still relevant to the country, in addition to reflecting the country’s journey since 1994.

“The exhibition essentially asks if the notion of [a] rainbow nation still exists 20 years on and looks back at events that shaped the country” she said.

She added that various issues such as poverty, HIV/Aids and race, were included in the exhibition in various sections.

“We looked at both the positive and negative aspects of the past 20 years and have tried to truly depict the past years,” she said.

Most of the work included in the exhibition is dated from 1994, but there are pieces from previous years, something Neluheni explained as being significant to the exhibition.

Also present at the opening was Prof. Tawana Kupe, deputy vice-chancellor and principal at the University of the Witwatersrand, who praised the work included in the exhibition.

Kupe also praised the role that artists played in a democracy saying that they “ask critical and provocative questions in their artwork”.

“This exhibition [also] raises questions of true freedom in South Africa and whether the country has progressed in a good direction, something we need to reflect on.”

Over the Rainbow will run until 31 August.