This month’s edition of Art & Design Saturday acknowledges Mandela month and the centenary celebrations taking place across the country. Taking place on 14 July at Rosebank’s Keyes Art Mile, the theme for this month, PHOTO FOCUS, is a curated programme that pays homage to documentary photography and its role in history. You can look forward to exhibitions, film screenings and talks to explore the impact of the documentary form on contemporary art, design, and publishing.
Participants include the South African Mint (that will be presenting a new coin range to commemorate the centenary of the birth of Nelson Mandela), Market Photo Workshop, 21 Icons, Alon Skuy and James Oatway, Fourthwall Books, Stephen Hobbs presented by David Krut Projects, Vatic Studio Capsule, Mr Vinyl, True Design and Anatomy Design.
South African writer, political activist and recipient of the 1991 Nobel Prize in Literature, Nadine Gordimer. Image: Supplied
21 Icons will exhibit a selection of portraits that celebrates authors such as Nadine Gordimer and established artists such as Hugh Masekela, Johnny Clegg, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, William Kentridge and Helen Sebidi from the first season of 21 ICONS– A Journey to Democracy photographed by Adrian Steirn. The project will also feature the portraits of younger creatives, Athi-Patra Ruga, Laduma Ngxokolo, Kyle Shepard, Mikhail Subotzky, Oliver Hermanus and Simphiwe Dana from 21 ICONS Season 3– The Future of a Nation photographed by Gary van Wyk. TMRW Gallery will be exhibiting Mary Sibande’s interactive and VR installation, ‘A Crescendo of Ecstasy.’
Lebohang Kganye artwork. Image: Supplied
Another highlight of July’s PHOTO FOCUS is the renowned Market Photo Workshop, Constructions: History as Form, featuring the work of Lebohang Kganye, Sipho Gongxeka and Bongani Mnguni. It was founded in 1989 by renowned documentary photographer and artist David Goldblatt and is considered pivotal in training photographers and in growing photographic literacy.
With Mandela Day in mind, Keyes Art Mile also invites all visitors to donate a blanket or gently worn jacket. A collection box will be placed in The Atrium for the month of July and all items will be donated to The Rosebank Homeless Association.
Visit keyesartmile.co.za for more information
Feature Image: Artist, Athi-Patra Ruga, Supplied
