The South African Meta Socialism exhibition to open at Springs Gallery
A group exhibition by artists Simon Radebe, Themba Msiza Nicholas Marobane at Springs Art Gallery, Library Building, Corner 5th Street and 6th Avenue | Springs 5 -31 October 2024.
By CityLife Arts Writer
A new group exhibition that will also feature a conversation with the three featured artists and audience led by visual artist, curator and scholar, Philiswa Lila will open at Springs Gallery on October 5, running till October 31, 2014 at Springs Gallery in Ekurhuleni.
“The Springs Art Gallery is pleased to present ‘The South African Meta Socialism’, a collaborative exhibition featuring artworks by Simon Radebe, Themba Msiza, and Nicholas Marobane. This exhibition continues the gallery’s mission to showcase diverse art forms, reflect South Africa’s rich cultural diversity, and make visual art accessible to all. Through a blend of imagery, sound, and discussion, the show fosters collaboration and critical visual dialogue, encouraging reflection on pressing social issues.
The South African Meta Socialism’ draws on themes of violence, xenophobia, and socio-economic and political inequalities, all of which affect the South African nation. The often-unfulfilled promises from those in positions of power to address these issues have inspired a body of work that reflects neo-resilience, created by these three contemporary South African artists,” the curators of the exhibition state.
Though their artistic practices differ in form, Msiza, Marobane, and Radebe share a common vision. They refuse to turn away from the harsh realities that stifle their growth as creatives, as well as the progress of ordinary South Africans. Through their work, they confront these challenges head-on, offering critical insights into the socio-political landscape of the country.
The exhibition will officially open on Saturday, 5 October 2024, with a conversation feature with the three featured artists and audience led by Visual Artist, Curator and Scholar, Philiswa Lila.
The theme of this exhibition centers on “meta experiences” in relation to contemporary South Africa’s social and political landscape. The exhibition presents a body of neo-resilient aesthetics by three contemporary South African artists—Simon Radebe, Themba Msiza, and Nicholas Marobane—who visually interrogate issues such as violence, xenophobia, and socio-economic and political injustices that negatively impact the nation. It questions whether the politicization, mediatization, and public discourse on notions like “Ubuntu,” “Batho Pele Principles,” “Pan-Africanism,” and other romantic ideologies truly address the contrasting realities on the ground. These harsh realities often surface in the form of poor service delivery, public unrest, looting, violent xenophobic attacks, gender-based violence, and other atrocities.
Although part of the exhibition’s title, the term “meta” often refers to self-referential creative works. It was specifically chosen by the artists because their work is heavily influenced by other creatives whose works vocally or visually resist the urge to conform to the status quo of unjust societies. In a similar vein, while each artist employs a different practice, their shared vision rejects the gloomy realities that hinder their progress as creatives and as ordinary South Africans. This exhibition aims to serve as a visual springboard, encouraging critical conversations and collaborations about current social ills, to address and correct them.
These conversations are evident in Themba Msiza’s delicate yet profound critique of South Africa’s social, economic, and relational issues. Msiza carves into large wooden panels and applies acrylic paint, wood stain, shoe polish, and varnish, centering his work on the lived experiences and emotions of foreign African nationals in South Africa. He draws inspiration from other creatives and literary works to ground his figurative and sometimes abstract compositions.
Simon Radebe’s work, on the other hand, highlights the contributions of South African creatives—writers, photographers, actors, musicians, and fine artists—who have helped him and society at large cope with the injustices of the state. Using mixed media such as charcoal, chalk, acrylic paint, ink, and colored pencils, Radebe pays tribute to these often-overlooked icons. He incorporates figurative imagery, fingerprint impressions, and his personal signature to underscore his own engagement with the issues he addresses.
Nicholas Marobane’s work, rendered with spontaneity and an unrestrained approach to his mediums, emphasizes the fragility and mishandling of the subjects he explores. Using charcoal, ink, soft pastel, and acrylic paint on Fabriano paper, Marobane presents recurring imagery that evokes emotions of pain, grief, and loss, drawn from both personal experiences and everyday observations. His work also investigates the coping mechanisms that individuals use to obscure their struggles.
The curatorial approach for these three artists challenges viewers to not confine the context of the exhibits to a specific gallery setting. Rather, it demands that we view the work as an alternative form of visual communication, reflecting on the ongoing negative events in South Africa. *The South African Meta Socialism* exhibition is a call to introspect and take positive action toward nation-building and an inclusive, equitable future. It is within this framework that the exhibition should be understood.
This exhibition will run until Thursday, 31 October 2024. The gallery is open Monday through Friday, 9am – 4pm for public viewing (closed on Sundays and public holidays).
The Springs Art Gallery offers artists gallery space to exhibit for a limited period. Submissions will be considered for curatorial projects and exhibitions by emerging and established artists in all media. Artists and curators need to approach the gallery by submitting a proposal with a portfolio of their work for consideration.
.The South African Meta Socialism exhibition is at Springs Art Gallery, Library Building, Corner 5th Street and 6th Avenue | Springs.