Archive: Issue No. 80, April 2004

01.04.04 'Durban Diary' - David Lloyd at artSPACE durban
01.04.04 'The prophecy of the Cattle Killing of 1856/ 7 known as the Ibali lika Nongqawuse' - an exhibition of paintings by Andrew Nhlangwini at the NSA
01.04.04 'Ties that Bind' at the DAG

British born David Lloyd moved to South Africa in the late 60s and loves the city of Durban where he now lives. Its influence is what informs his work and provides the material that stimulates his production celebrating the variety of life that accosts him on a daily basis and portraying the value of what might normally remain unconsidered. Entitled 'Durban Diary' the work casts a sharply graphic, and often witty, eye on the goings-on of the city.

Please note that the official opening is on April 2 at 6.30pm.

Opens: March 31
Closes: April 17

Andrew Nhlangwini graduated from the University of Fort Hare Fine Art Department in 1993 and is currently completing his Masters in Technology for Fine Art at the Port Elizabeth Technikon, where he also lectures.

The exhibition, whose full title is 'The prophecy of the Cattle Killing of 1856/ 7 known as the Ibali lika Nongqawuse', consists of large-scale oil paintings in the tradition of history painting. Nhlangwini tells the story of Nongqawuse, the Xhosa visionary who prophesised that the Xhosa would be liberated from the English colonial onslaught if they slaughtered all their cattle. Obedient to the call of the ancestors the Xhosa destroyed their only source of food and succumbed to the British.

Because there are many versions of what Nongqawuse may or may not have told her people, Nhlangwini describes his work as "intended to communicate a mood that reflects interference". Believing that Nongqawuse might have been an instrument of the British leader Sir George Grey, Nhlangwini has deliberately not been specific in his telling of Nongqawuse's story.

Instead the artist uses symbolic representation to breathe new life into this often told story of the Eastern Cape making way for new readings and interpretations. Knowing that history is told through many voices, Nhlangwini re-images and re-imagines the past.

Nhlangwini's work is represented in numerous collections, including the Port Elizabeth Museum and the Sanlam Corporate collection.

Alternative voices will also be heard in the Park Gallery where the NSA is offering art collectors a once-off opportunity to put works on sale at the gallery. Since the gallery frequently receives requests to re-sell work, they have decided to offer collectors the chance to display their pieces and possibly find a buyer.

Interested members of the public are invited to bring in works on Friday April 4, Saturday April 6 and Sunday April 7 between 11am and 3:00pm for consideration. This service will be offered free of charge, but a standard gallery commission is applicable if a work sells. For further information contact gallery curator Storm Janse van Rensburg.

Opening: April 6 at 6.00pm
Closing: April 25

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Carol Brown, curator of the Durban Art Gallery, has put together 'Ties that Bind', an exhibition focusing on the family. Generated in anticipation of the SA Association For Marital and Family Therapy Conference (April 17-19) to be held at Durban's International Conference Centre (ICC), the exhibition interrogates traditions, constructions and implications of traditional and alternative families.

As well as drawing from the permanent collection of the DAG (utilising work by Bafana Mkhize and Alfred Thoba amongst others), Brown has included AIDS orphan dolls from Kate Wells' ongoing AIDS projects. Despite the presence of such objects the exhibition is largely photographic. Brown has thus chosen to invite a number of photographers whose interest in family matters is central to their work. Obvious candidates such as Terry Kurgan, Val Adamson and Jean Brundit are all included as well as less expected selections such as Ian van Coller (who has just completed an MFA at University of New Mexico). Photos from the HSRC's Fatherhood Project round off the show.

A catalogue, with writings by Jerry Coovadia and family therapist Frieda Rundell, will accompany the exhibition.

Opening: April 15
Closing: June 6