Normally, the gallery would invite 1 solo established artist to exhibit at the end of the year, this year they are putting a spotlight to a talented group of young artists from Kwa-Zulu Natal, Amasosha who have made a name for themselves as a collective.
The idea to bring about this exhibition by this group was from how the group were vocal about the neglection of people of voices from the people of colour and in the rural areas in the contemporary art space and this is also to archive the stories of people of colour by artists who experience that life. This exhibition is an evidence how the people of colour see themselves in the contemporary society and it also archive these experiences of the people of colour which are neglected by the world .
The exhibition is curated by Mthobisi Maphumulo and it is titled Inkaba which translates to English as umbilical cord or navel. In this case they have titled the exhibition Inkaba which is a remnant of the umbilical cord that connects a baby to its mother before birth. The umbilical cord supplies oxygen and nutrition to the baby during pregnancy. It is cut and removed at birth and leaves a scar—the navel. In Zulu custom, the umbilical cord has a deeper meaning. It is appreciated as a vein that connects the present family to the future family to allow continuity. Literally, when a child is born, the umbilical cord is cut and buried in the cattle kraal to connect the newborn with the source of life of the family, as cattle generally are in African custom.
In Zulu culture, Inkaba can also refer to a marker of where one comes from. The works in the Inkaba exhibition are a reflection of a journey that people of colour have travelled socio-economically to make sense of their lives today. Participating artists in the exhibition are all from Durban and surroundings and includes Anelisiwe Maphumulo,Andile Maphumulo,Mthobisi Maphumulo,Lindani Maduna ,Thembi Mthembu,Thalente Khomo,Lindelwa Msimang ,Bongani Luthuli,Nhlanhla Chonco,Sihle Mthethwa,Mzamo Mlambo and Nhlakanipho Peace Ndimande
Maphumulo who is the curator of the exhibition says the works allow them to appreciate the patience that people of colour have gone through to push boundaries in engaging with their intellectual ideas in an imposed, ever-changing environment.
“Some of the works challenge, inspire, celebrate, question and investigate the experiences of people of colour in contemporary spaces.” He says.
All these elements challenge artists to go back to the scars of the past and to explore the residues that people of colour carry into the future. Inkaba therefore becomes an endeavour to trace the origins of African communities whilst writing a different narrative with new possibilities for contemporary society.
Maphumulo also explains how the Amasosha movement came about, a group that he founded in 2015 and does contemporary art with various techniques of art. “.The Word ‘amasosha’ is an isiZulu loan-word derived from the English word for ‘soldiers’. Quite clearly, the idea was to evoke qualities found in soldiers such as self-reliance, hard work, bravery, unity, and front-line combat, amongst others— in a way, evoking some sense of being on a mission.It is on these values that Amasosha Art Movement was founded.”
“This movement is emerging as a critical vehicle in the exploration, interrogation, and collaboration of ideas. All this is possible because of the multi-disciplinary composition of the collective.” He concluded.”
Mthobisi who is the curator of this exhibition and the artists are available for interviews. Please let me know if you would like to speak to them.
Cece Smith 