Space: Currencies in Contemporary African Art

The City of Johannesburg in partnership with the Department of Arts and Culture and Telkom will host an important African contemporary art exhibition from 11 MAY until 11 JULY 2010 at MUSEUM AFRICA, Newtown Johannesburg.

WEBSITE: http://www.theartistsofafrica.co.za/

The exhibition, titled Space, will showcase some of the leading artists, writers and curators from the Continent of Africa to the global audience focused on the continent during this period.
The organizers are eager to partner with SAfm in order to aggressively promote the exhibition as a must see for all people interested in the arts, Africa and the 2010 FIFA World Cup™.
This exhibition is not a commercial show i.e. the works will not be offered for sale.

It is our intension that we use this opportunity to showcase the African contemporary art industry to the enormous global audience focused on Africa during this period. African art is an integral part of the ultimate African experience for which the tourists are coming in search of.
An exhibition of this caliber is rich in content with human interest stories and photographs of the artists and their works.
I look forward to discussing various opportunities with the producers responsible for the shows in your stable in order to conceptualise potential opportunities for mutual benefit with the ultimate goal of promoting the exhibition and the artists of Africa.

The 2010 FIFA World Cup:
Each Host City will coordinate various events that are recognized as 2010 FIFA World Cup™ Host City Events.

Space has been recognized as such an event and is therefore endorsed by FIFA, the Local Organising Committee, the City of Johannesburg and The Department of Arts and Culture.

It is only one of two such events that have been recognized as official Host City Johannesburg events.

The Curators:
Space is curated by Thembinkosi Goniwe and Melissa Mboweni in collaboration with several respected curatorial consultants from the continent.

The Artists:
Berni Searle (South Africa)
Godfried Donkor (Ghana/England)
Barthelemy Toguo (Cameroon/France)
Willem Boshoff (South Africa)
Kudzanai Chiurai (Zimbabwe/South Africa)
David Koloane (South Africa)
Arlene Wandera (Kenya/England)
Miriam Syowia Kyambi (Kenya)
Nandipha Mntambo (Swaziland/South Africa)
Gabrielle Goliath (South Africa)
James Muriuki (Kenya)
Alison Kearney (South Africa)
Nathalie Bikoro (Kenya/England)
Berry Bickle (Zimbabwe/ Mozambique)
Zen Marie (South Africa)
Mary Sibande (South Africa)
Abdul Razaq Awofeso (Nigeria)
Steve Bandoma (Congo)
Elias Sime (Ethiopia)
Peterson Kamwathi Waweru (Kenya)
Gugulective (South Africa)
Chimurenga (South Africa)
Billie Zangewa (Malawi/London)
Dominique Zinkpe (Benin)

The Curatorial Consultants and Writers:
Simon Njami (Cameroon/France)
Abebe Zegeye (Ethiopia/South Africa)
Elvira Dyangani Osse (Spain/Guinea-Bissau)
Bongani Madondo (South Africa)
Bettina Malcomess (South Africa)
Jimmy Ogonga (Kenya)
Raphael Chikukwa (Zimbabwe)
Monica Arac de Nyeko (Uganda)

The Curatorial Concept:
Curators Thembinkosi Goniwe and Melissa Mboweni engaged in a dialogue with artists, writers and curators around several issues currently preoccupying cultural interactions and interventions on the continent of Africa, resulting in the curatorial concept of – Space: Currencies in Contemporary African Art.

Space embodies two notions, space and pace, which signify sites/contexts and tempos/energies that are part of societal make up. Space is wherein ideas are negotiated and meaning produced through various human activities and social practices, while pace refers to speed, the rate at which change or advancement of such activities and practices takes place in society.

Currencies refer not only to movement fluidity or rhythm but also to currency of an economic nature. Artists have been invited to engage with various aspects of the curatorial concept with a view to reflecting personal yet shared interpretations of Africa and the Diaspora that are neither prescriptive nor restrictive.

The Catalogue:
Respected writers have been invited to put forward essays, poems and articles dealing with issues pertaining to the Continent of Africa and the curatorial concept.
These will be included in a rich, informative and interesting catalogue.