Lowly priced artworks up for grabs at Bag Factory’s annual fundraising exhibition Summer Salon

By Edward Tsumele, CITYLIFE/ARTS Editor

Her artwork, a giant mat made up of what from a distance looks like beads, when in actual fact this is plastic material that has been crocheted in a such a way that the whole artwork gives an illusion of being made of beads.

In fact this piece of artwork, is the first art work that you come across as you enter the Bag factory Artist Studio Gallery in Newtown, Johannesburg. Populated by figures that are so abstract that you cannot easily tell whether these are figures of males or females. They in fact could be either female or male figures, or even both. This piece is entitled Raised on a Mat, by young visual artist Kutlwano Monyai, who is definitely a young artist to look out for on the contemporary art scene in South Africa, especially, If she continues on the promising art trajectory she has taken.

“You can decide whether they are female or male figures as these are abstract works whose definition depends on you, the viewer, and it is not up to me to say what they are,” the young artist tells me. To me those figures look like female figures, but I could be wrong as per Monyai, all that depends on you the viewer, as per most abstract art works in general. Female or male, this piece just looks beautiful.

A graduate of Tshwane University of Technology, by reusing plastic material in this manner, turning this material which is often a nuisance in society when discarded carelessly as plastics are increasingly a global concern polluting our streets, rivers and choking sea life, the artist is not only helping in making our environment less polluted, but she is turning these plastics into beautiful pieces of art works.

There is no doubt that the adjudicators of The Bag Factory Young Womxn Studio Bursary, funded by Bag Factory alumni artist Sam Nhlengethwa, must have been impressed by Monyai’s innovative use of the plastic material as well as of course her quite subtle way of visual communication she employs in her art practice.

Monyai and  Princia Matungulu are this year’s joint-winners  of  Bag Factory Young Womxn Studio Bursary award and are currently sharing a fully funded studio bursary at the Bag Factory for 12 months from 1 October 2021 to 30 September 2022.

“The skill to use plastic material to make art works was passed on from my mother as well as my grandmother who taught me how to crochet. Going forward I would like to use more plastic material, particularly recycling discarded plastic material,” she told CITYLIFE/ARTs during the opening of the Summer Salon exhibition on Saturday, October 16, 2021.

The point is Raised on a Mat, Monyai’s art piece, is part of a big body of works that is being exhibited in this gallery, contributed to by a number of artists both young and established, who answered to a call earlier this year, sent out by the Bag Factory Artist Studios for artists to contribute some work to the exhibition as a way of fundraising for this Non Profit Organisation contributing immensely to the development of young artists on the African continent..

In fact this particular Summer Salon 2021 Bag Factory’s Annual Fundraising exhibition celebrates 30 years of Bag Factory’s existence and the exhibition will run till November 27 November 2021.

 “We’re excited to present our annual fundraising group exhibition as the Bag Factory turns 30 years old this year, having finally acquired the building that has become a second home to a community of emerging and established artists. It is with that celebratory spirit in mind, that we invited the art community at large to take part in this year’s edition of our Summer Salon. The artworks in the exhibition are an indication of the Bag Factory’s impact and the pivotal role we continue to play in the development of the arts in South Africa, as well as looking to our future. Bag Factory.

“We received submissions from around the country having partnered with five other institutions and having placed a call out to yet-to-join family members. The exhibition comprises of young and established artists, who have interpreted our artists’ studios through a contemporary lens. With over 30 paintings, drawings and mixed media work on show, we would love to highlight submissions and donations from artists including Lwando Dlamini, Usha Seejarim, Kemang Wa Lehulere, Colbert Mashile and Diana Hyslop.

Artworks on sale are priced between R500 and R30,000. With thanks to Greatmore Studios (Western Cape), KZNSA (Kwa Zulu Natal), NWU Gallery (North West), WHAG (Northern Cape) and ARTEC Gallery (Eastern Cape),” the Bag factory says in its marketing statement.

.Bag Factory, is at 10 Mahlathini Street, Newtown. The Bag Factory is one of six studios in  Joburg  CBD that are going to participate in a Joint Open Studios: the biggest such event of this kind in Johannesburg taking place over two days, Saturday 30 October 2021, and  Sunday 31 October 2021, 11am — 3pm Bag. The Summer salon exhibition runs till November 27, 2021.