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Social issues, self-reflection, and a love of nature are some of the main themes in the fifth Northern Cape Artist Exhibition which opened last week in the Williams Humphreys Art Gallery (Whag) in Kimberley.
“Butter truth of freedom” and “Majita a tender”, two artworks of Warrenton-based artist Vuyo Mayesa, captured a typical day in Warrenton.
“Water drums and wheelbarrows show the story of Warrenton,” says Mayesa, who emphasised that his work captures his community and its strides.
“I am angry at the selling point of democracy. The phrase that water will be free and is a human right, is misplaced.”
Mayesa, who has been living in this Northern Cape town next to the Vaal River for years now, says the availability of water has always been a problem. After the flood in February damaged the main water supply line, residents have since been left with dry taps.
“Majita a tender” shows the entrepreneurship of youth who ask R5 to fetch water for those who can not.
Artist Prince Mothole’s “Home problems” tells the pandemic of child abuse, which he witnesses in his neighbourhood.
Merit awards
Garnett Ludick, Whag’s principal curator of collections, says there was no theme for the exhibition, as the gallery simply wanted to showcase the artistic talent of the Northern Cape and the emergent themes in the province.
“The net was cast wide this year, and a total of 87 entries were received. We narrowed it down to 57 artworks by 30 visual artists.”
Artists from all over the vast Northern Cape, including some from Kimberley, Warrenton, Kakamas, Upington, and as far as Steinkopf, entered.
Four entries were also received as part of the Whag Prison Project, which invests in the upliftment of women who have entered correctional facilities.
This is done through skills transfer in art crafts, equipping them with marketable income-generating skills.
With these newly acquired skills the women can create sellable products that can financially support their families upon their release from the correctional centre.
Showing dedication
Ludick says he was overwhelmed with the dedication of the Northern Cape artists, and used a painting of Ivan Brits, of which the paint was still wet when handed in, as an example.
Rayleen Benjamin says she appreciates the opportunity to have her artwork exhibited in a national art gallery.
Mother and daughter, Mandy and Natascha de Klerk, decided to both enter for the exhibition. Both feel honoured to see their work on display in the Whag.
Grant Nagel and Monique Klem both entered photos they took with their cellphones.
Through her pictures, Klem wants to show people how she sees the world.
Robert Hart entered examples of what he loves doing most: taking macro photos.
- All the artworks that are part of this exhibition, are for sale.
- The exhibition can be visited in the Whag until 30 September.
