Bambo Sibiya exhibition Slow down tiger at Everard Reed Gallery is highly political
By CityLife Arts Writer
Visual artist Bambo Sibiya’s latest exhibition entitled Slow down tiger is currently on at the Everard Reed Gallery in Rosebank until October 4.
August House and the Meta Foundation have partnered with artist Bambo Sibiya to champion his career and both entities are supporting him through this exhibition.
August House provides a creative home to 45 local and international full time practising artists. Established as an enclave for artists in 2006 by Bie Venter and Maria Svane. Its notable tenants have included artists such as Mary Sibanda, Dineo Seshee Bopape and Lawrence Lemaoana, Mbongeni Richman Buthelezi, Gordon Froud, Joseph Gaylard, Nontobeko Ntombela, Gabi Ngcobo, Gonçalo Mabunda, Jacki McInnes, Nelson Makamo, Bie Venter, Kudzanai Chiurai and Nicholas Hlobo.
The Meta Foundation was founded in February 2020 with the aim of providing dynamic and strategic programming to the artists of August House with the aim of supporting their artistic and career development.
“While this on-going process is done through a number of platforms, August House and the Meta Foundation had partnered with Bambo Sibiya to provide a dynamic support system for him and to champion his career. It is through this kind of support that we hope to boost his capacity to realize work and advance his journey of creation.
August House and the Meta Foundation strongly believe in Sibiya’s talent, providing an idea of South African art should look like to outsiders all over the world,” the foundation and August House say in a statement released when the exhibition opened on September 14.
Sibiya’s voice is political but there is a certain gentleness and fragility contained in the harsh realities he presents to the world. His compositions are carefully considered, with much time spent before the painting process begins, in modeling and arranging his characters. Through their bodies and their gaze much of the first layers of interpretation can be drawn. He manages to interlace South Africa’s history using the faces of experience in the current generations, providing them with a loud, articulate and clear voice, the voice of his generation.
Through his experimentation with fabric and his extensive printing experience (at Artist Proof Studios), his work contains a level of intricacy and fragility which is in contrast to his characters confidence, providing a new depth and asking the audience to question their preconceived notions about topics of masculinity, family, gender, history, race and youth.
The exhibition can be viewed by appointment. Appointments can be made with Megan Scott-megan@everad.co.za.