Event location: Bird Street Gallery, Nelson Mandela University
Event date and time: 19/04/2024 09:30:00
The Department of Visual Arts, in the Faculty of Humanities, invites you to attend: A Re Tshamekeng - A solo exhibition by Absa L’Atelier 2022 Gerard Sekoto Award Winner: Malebogo Molokoane.
Exhibition Opening:
Thursday 18 April 2024
17h30 for 18h00
Bird Street Gallery, 20 Bird Street, Central, Gqeberha
Artist Walkabout:
Saturday 20 April 2024
10h00 - 11h00
The Bird Street Gallery is pleased to announce the forthcoming opening of the solo exhibition by artist Malebogo Molokoane, the recipient of the 2022 Absa L’telier Gerald Sekoto award. This prestigious accolade, bestowed by Absa in collaboration with SANAVA (the South African National Association for Visual Arts), the Embassy of France in South Africa, IFAS (the French Institute of South Africa), and the Alliance Française network, entailed a three-month residency at the renowned Cité Internationale Des Arts in Paris, as well as a traveling exhibition across South Africa.
Molokoane will showcase her latest art collection, titled “A Re Tshamekeng”, Sesotho for “let’s play” This interactive body of work consists of glass board games which were produced while she was in residence at the Cite Internationale Des Arts in Paris. She captures the range of human emotions in glass and lets them manifest in the countless ways that board games and indigenous games can be played. Molokoane explains: “Embedded within my art is a profound reverence for my childhood memories, giving viewers a chance to interact personally with my work”. The artist highlights how her artworks encourage tactile exploration, inviting viewers to touch, feel, and engage in a playful interaction with the objects. She challenges the perception of glass as a fragile medium, empowering individuals to embrace its tactile nature without fear. Each artwork represents a rebellion against societal norms dictating self-expression. Through this exhibition, Molokoane honors everyone’s innate right to express their feelings freely, in an honest and judgment-free manner. She preserves priceless memories within the shards of unity depicted by the emojis and human expressions integrated into the various games. These artworks serve as symbols, encapsulating the essence of shared experiences, cultivating connections, and inviting viewers to admire the intricate tapestry of human feelings and sentiments.
Molokoane, born on September 22, 1990, in Rustenburg, North West, is a talented artist whose journey in the world of fine arts began at the Tswane University of Technology, where she earned her Post Graduate Diploma in Fine and Applied Art. Currently, Molokoane is immersed in the pursuit of her Master’s Degree, specializing in glass, while working as a part-time lecturer.
Molokoane’s artistic journey includes notable engagements such as participation in the 2021 Blow Your Sculpture African Glass Art event, being the featured artist for Mathews+Associates Architects Saadjie in the same year, inclusion in the Top 100 Sasol New Signature exhibition, and contribution as a participant artist in the Phase III Winter online exhibition titled “Imitation of Life” hosted by Lizamore and Associates. Furthermore, in 2022, Molokoane took part in the Next Generation glass group exhibition, supported by Southern African Glass in honor of the International Glass Year. In 2023, she was a class participant in the Session 5 at the Pilchuck Glass School in Seattle, USA, and showcased her work at Sculptx 2023, South Africa’s largest annual sculpture fair. She was selected as South Africa’s guest artist for UNESCO’s Africa Week in 2023, where she had the opportunity to showcase her work. In an unexpected collaboration, she joined forces with renowned glassblower Guillaume Thoroval and filmmaker/photographer JBach. This collaboration culminated in an exhibition at Africa Week and was featured in “Sine Step Sis”, a mapping show curated by JBach himself.
Daily Viewing:
19 April - 31 May 2024
09h30 - 15h30, Mon - Fri
More information:
E: gallery@mandela.ac.za or W: visualarts.mandela.ac.za
