Joburg centre is full of hidden gems
While wondering around the city centre in the warm sunshine of an Autumn day, we came across a strange sign for SOWETO ART GALLERY – in the middle of town! Trying to be an intrepid journalist and not wanting anything to slip by, I wandered into the foyer of Victory House and up two flights of dodgy stairs… hoping to make a magical discovery. I was not dissapointed.
The Soweto…
Art Gallery is a treasure. It’s not a gallery per se, in fact it is just three little rooms with various artifacts and artwork spread around – we were welcomed by the very friendly and warm artist and owner Peter Sibeko – who it turns out is an international artist whose work is loved by Thabo Mbeki …Apparently Winnie even had his work in her office!!! He has been running the gallery there since 1986 and says that he sells a lot of his work to tourists who are hungry for Soweto scenes…
Peter Sibeko was born in 1940 in Orlando and has lived in Orlando East ever since – we also met his son Elias who is also an artist. Bra Peter is best known for his colourful abstract towhship scenes, which he often paints using dust from the Gold Mines surrounding Soweto – his work has been exhibited in the Uk, Australia, the States and all over SA. Martin Luther Kings wife Coletta even has a painting of Peters in the Memory of Martin Luther King collection.
He has two huge flatbed filing cabinets, filled with township art depicting township and rural scenes – there is also some abstract work available. The price of the work ranges from R150 to R15 000 – there’s lots in the lower hundreds – all originals and all begging for a loving owner. Artists from Katlehong, Everton, Durban and Soweto bring their work to Bra Peter who holds exhibitions from time-to-time in Pretoria and Joburg. Besides the range of Bra Peter’s work available, other originals from artists such as Dabuku Ntuli, Solomon Sekhaolelo, David Mpele, Fanzile Masonbuku, Godfrey Ndaba and Knowledge Tlou were all available.
Bra Peter and friends are also involved in the upliftment and training of young artists in Soweto and will soon be running a workshop guiding and helping out young people that want to be artists – interested parties can contact Peter Sibeko on 011 492 1109 for more information.
I encourage ALL our REPRESENT readers, the next time you are in town, make a draai to the SOWETO ART GALLERY and buy yourselves an original SOWETO art piece – they will be worth a fortune one day and you’re supporting a whole network of artists… LOOK OUT FOR THE SIGN!
SOWETO ART GALLERY
Suite 34
Second Floor
Victory House
Corner Harrison St and Commissioner
011 492 1109
PETER SIBEKO’S EMAIL
