Art South Art Initiative hosts robust inaugural South African art history writing workshop
To date, ASAI has published several critical texts namely On the Map: Perspectives on Art from South Africa, Vol.1 (2026), Awakenings: The Art of Lionel Davis (2017) and Against the Grain: Sculptors from the Cape (2013).
By Tonderai Chiyindiko
All photos: Sboniso Bill Sithole
Art South Art Initiative (ASAI), a non-profit visual arts organisation whose aim is to generate critical resources on art in South Africa, and the rest of the continent, recently hosted the inaugural Re/Writing South African Art History workshop in Durban.
The workshop attracted academics, artists, writers, thinkers and other ecosystem players all with the aim of mulling over the writing which has accompanied little-known as well as popular art exhibitions, art collectives, individual artists, key moments and ground-breaking movements within the South African art scene.
The presentation by ASAI founder and director, Mario Pissarra was both informative and engaging, whilst the discussions were robust and enlightening for those who were able to attend including this journalist.
To date, ASAI has published several critical texts namely On the Map: Perspectives on Art from South Africa, Vol.1 (2026), Awakenings: The Art of Lionel Davis (2017) and Against the Grain: Sculptors from the Cape (2013).
These books serve as important interventions in unpacking, analysing and understanding the development of writing on key South African art exhibitions and initiatives vis-à-vis the ever-changing socio-political climate which is so often reflected in the art of the times.
The next session is scheduled for October 2026, those interested can reach out to ASAI on coordinator@asai.co.za for details on how to participate and/or purchase any of the books.