At the Keyes Art Mile in Rosebank, Jozi, I visit Madlozi Contemporary Art Gallery’s show,  The Africa Salon,

My Art Collector Passport unlocks the experience…as I am drawn in to bravely coloured walls, deep hued and mysterious, embracing glowing artworks – this is not another white cube -it’s a RED cube!!!

On the floor is an 18-piece installation by Snelihle Maphumulo titled ‘“Umnikelo” (The Serving/offering) investigating themes of service in Nguni cultures.

This is an exhibition that is multi layered indeed- including Neo Theku’s powerful photo series… and a live performance by him addressing the knife edge situation and challenges facing so many young, often fatherless, men in our society ..

Contemporary Africa in our image .. as an art offering curated by Beathur Magoza Baker, this is a fitting follow on to The Africa Remix 2004 which showed 80 African artists to the world art market. 

I loved meeting Beathur, who, in bringing together established and emerging artists, says: “I really enjoyed creating an experience for an exhibition and gallery audience that resonates with a diverse, contemporary Africa in the shades and colour, textures and resonant forms that connect with shared cultural symbols and themes.”  

She entranced me with her narratives of the various artists – and I immersed myself in the soft earth colours used by Nandipha Jantjies- such a contract to all the other painters who were mostly bold and bright..

This diverse art, this multi-layered “Africaness”, is expertly pulled together into a satisfying exhibition by Beathur, connecting artist and viewers with shared culture and themes.

Segun Aiyesan -detail from The Toil of Man-the use of acrylic and impasto texture pulls me in …and the enigmatic hieroglyphs/Asemic writing grabs me…

The glorious signature colours of David Chinyama …

George Masarira delights me as always, brave and symbolic as he is..

Graphic faces, accusing, shifting, resigned and somehow sad eyes, painted money (or the lack of it!!), a piercing social commentary from George…

Madlozi Gallery created walkabout sessions with artists and I was luckily able to catch up with George beforehand to chat, in the delightful Freshly Ground coffee shop below the gallery -always cool, George –

Backed up by an African Liberty on the wall behind him- a beauty !

George dropping his guard and dropping his shades for me! …beautiful eyes

My trusty DesignLife tote bag goes everywhere…

Madlozi, Black and female-owned, is a refreshing and innovative gallery, creating art experiences beyond the ‘white cube’. 

Featuring the further works of such as Silas Abrifor, Washington Kirika, Lisolomzi Pikoli, wide ranging from print to graffiti, mixed media to acrylics, all these mediums pull together to inspire me -thank you @madlozi_artgallery

And featured in a VISI magazine article on Madlozi Art and The Africa Salon…

That red wall!!!’

And George’s graphic art ..

All photographs (unless stated otherwise) and opinions, are my own …!