Archive: Issue No. 37, September 2000

Graeme Williams is presenting a body of work recently published in book form ('The Inner City' by Williams, Published by Ravan Press) - and exhibited over two days at Emmarentia Park in Johannesburg. The photographs take a sharp and quirky look at Johannesburg between 1989 and 1999, although most were taken between 1996 and 1998. Surreal and witty, they reveal an underbelly of urban living and experience in Johannesburg. Williams states that "my reason for photographing these particular aspects of Johannesburg was not so much to document the city as to reflect a time in my life".

Williams currently works as a freelance photographer for magazines, newspapers and corporations both in South Africa and abroad. His work has been exhibited locally and internationally and in 1996 he published The Floor, a book documenting the last days of open outcry trading on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.

Sunday September 24 - October 12, 4 p.m.

Female perspectives, bodies, and voices come to life in an exhibition by Mabatho Lesele and Mandisa Mbali, exploring their perspectives as young South African women. The exhibition, at the Bat Centre, features works in several media including oils, acrylics, woodcut prints, and linoprints. While working within a common set of ideas and themes each artist brings a unique perspective to their work, shaped by their personal histories and influences.

Mabatho Lesele is a South African-born African woman who grew up in apartheid South Africa. She is particularly interested in celebrating the strength of African female identity. Lesele works mainly in woodcut prints and focuses mainly directly on the body; "African woman have a different posture to the slender European woman. They are more curvy and round, and it is really interesting to look at [...]. I explored the female body contours in some of my art works. I found that I have the freedom to play around with the figures... to accentuate the African figure".

Mandisa Mbali's work is very much a manifestation of the complexities of her own identity. Born in the United Kingdom to a black South African father and white British mother Mbali's work expresses the many contradictions and challenges she faces as a woman of mixed cultural origins in contemporary South Africa; "There are many descriptions of myself I could give: an African/European; a South African British person; African/White/Mixed Race/Coloured person; a young woman. All my paintings are ultimately, in a figurative sense, self-portraits - I can always tell exactly which period of my life they refer to".

Lesele and Mbatho created 'Framing Ourselves' as an artistic dialogue about the female identity. Both artists are available for interviews. Mmabatho Lesele can be reached on 082 674-7791 and Mandisa Mbali on 082 871-8517.

The gallery is open to the public Mondays to Sundays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (BAT Centre, 45 Maritime Place, Small Craft Harbour, Durban 4001, Tel: 031 332-0451).

Contact Njabulo Hlongwane, Visual Arts Coordinator (031) 332-0451 or batcntre@mweb.co.za, or Arjun Vinodrai, BAT Centre Tel: 031 332-0451, Fax: 031 332 2213. E-mail: batcntre@mweb.co.za, Web: www.batcentre.co.za

Closing: September 8, 2000

The primary aim of this exhibition is to provide artists resident in Kwa-Zulu Natal with an opportunity to present their understanding of the concept of heritage within the socio-political context of South Africa. For these purposes artists from all cultural backgrounds have been invited to take part. To ensure that works submitted for selection were of an acceptable standard, free art clinics were conducted by Jenny Cullinan and Paul Sibisi both in Pietermaritzburg and Durban on August 5 and 6. These sessions were used as forums for discussion of ideas around the theme and constructive criticism aimed at assisting the artists with management of their careers.

Exhibiting artists include Paul Sibisi, Trevor Makhoba, George Msimang, Zamokwakhe Gumede, Joseph Manana, Michelle Batchelder, Trevor Makhoba, Gobi Nkobo, Nonhlanhla Mhlongo, Pinky Madlabane, Nathi Gumede and Mduduzi Xakaza, to name a few.

The organisers are the Golden Scenario Art Projects, launched in Pietermaritzburg in 1997, an initiative by four visual artists working in various disciplines, media and themes: Zakhele Hlatshwayo, Phumzile Dlamini, Khanyisile Mbuli and Mduduzi Xakaza. The initial and main motive behind the formation of this organisation (currently growing at a spectacular rate in terms of general membership) was to secure both popular and business support of creative activity within the iNdlovu region of this province. This would help artists determine and pursue marketing goals to meet their economic needs and gain a sense of self-dependency. The main goal is to create solidarity amongst artists that share the same experiences and convictions.

The exhibition received funding from the Kwa-Zulu Natal Arts and Culture Trust.

For more information, contact Storm Janse van Rensburg or Nathi Gumede

September 3 - 21