On the heels of the FNB Joburg Art Fair and in the lead up to the 10th Basha Uhuru Festival, the National Museum of African Art will host a 10-day series of art experiences titled \u201cThe Demonstration\u201d at Constitution Hill Sept. 15\u201324. \u201cThe Demonstration,\u201d part of the museum\u2019s NMAFA+ series, will include an exhibition, public conversations and artist-led city tours.<\/p>\n
Curated by Johannesburg-based artist Siwa Mgoboza, \u201cThe Demonstration\u201d experiences will focus on the theme of \u201cOur Shared Future: Reckoning with Our Racial Past,\u201d which aligns with the Smithsonian-wide initiative to address systemic racism and racial inequity in the U.S. and globally.<\/p>\n
Beginning Sept. 15, members of the public are invited to an exhibition designed to support and amplify South African artists whose work pushes boundaries and provokes important conversations. Featured artists include Blessing Ngobeni, Patrick Bongoy, Luke Radolff, Nelisiwe Xaba & Mocke Jansen van Veuren, and Ayana V. Jackson.<\/p>\n
The experiences will also include:<\/p>\n
\u2018African Artists Host\u2026\u2019\u2014Conversations on Race’… and Migration, Incarceration, Media & Representation, Identity, Resistance and the Demonstration
\nCurator-led exhibition tours
\nJohannesburg Through the Eyes of Artists\u2014in Fordsburg, Soweto and Westbury, led by artists Haroon Gunn-Salie, Senzeni Marasela and Jodie Pather
\n\u201cWe believe in art as an important catalyst for conversation and to reimagine change,\u201d said Ngaire Blankenberg, director of the National Museum of African Art and herself a South African. \u201cSiwa Mgoboza has brought together some remarkable artists to challenge us to confront issues of racism that are so persistent and pervasive in both American and South African societies. At NMAfA, we are reimagining the museum to help create sustainable, regenerative art ecosystems throughout global Africa, and NMAfA+ experiences are just the first step in this experimentation.\u201d<\/p>\n
As a preview to the experience, the National Museum of African Art partnered with the Moleskine Foundation for an intensive, five-day \u2018AtWork\u2019 workshop for young people on creative leadership and personal development. Led by renowned curator Simon Njami, the workshop brought together a mix of creative young people to reckon with themselves, what drives them and their personal histories.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur mission is to unlock the creative potential of young people all over the world to transform themselves and the communities around them,\u201d said Adama Sanneh, CEO and co-founder of Moleskine Foundation. \u201cWe are excited to work with NMAfA and Constitution Hill, with whom we share the same vision of creativity for social change. Our signature educational format AtWork, hosted for the first time in Johannesburg, helped spark new critical debates and conversation with this vibrant, young creative scene.\u201d<\/p>\n
It is especially poignant that the experience will take place at Constitution Hill, an iconic site of heritage, art and justice. It is a space that uses the heritage of the past to inspire the future through its Creative Hub and year-round programs in social justice, human rights and constitutional education.<\/p>\n
\u201cConstitution Hill is built on the key pillars of art and justice,\u201d said Constitution Hill CEO Dawn Robertson. \u201cThis Smithsonian initiative for social change aligns completely with our efforts at Constitution Hill to inspire positive social change and build a more equitable future for all. It provides an opportunity for us to facilitate discussions around the complexities of racial and social justice while elevating and empowering the voices of young people through the public programs we will facilitate aligned to the exhibitions and workshops.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
10-Day Art Experience Will Focus on Reckoning With Our Racial Past Through Art<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12963,"featured_media":16668,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28,16],"tags":[7,30,26],"class_list":{"0":"post-16671","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-culture","8":"category-news","9":"tag-apie-project","10":"tag-culture","11":"tag-news"},"yoast_head":"\n