Represent Recommends: Kin – Be – Jozi
This sounds really interesting for all of us into Urban Culture and Arts – it’s a global intercultural art project – 5 artists from Jozi, Bern (Switzerland) and Kinshasa have collaborated over the last year in exploring different facets of our urban environments. It’s Jozi’s turn to find out all about their discoveries – hear all about it by attending the event on Friday evening. It’s at the wonderful August house in End St – the Fashion District in town (see our article here) – August House sounds like a fascinating place to visit – please RSVP below if you’d like to go on Friday. More info here. Kin:Be:Jozi the final presentation FRIDAY 15 JUNE, 17:30 onwards 3rd Floor, August House, 76-82 End Street New Doornfontein safe parking in basement please rsvp to info@jpp.org.za Athi Patra Ruga & Anthea Moys (SA), Raphael Urweider & Steffi Weismann (Switzerland) and Kura Shomali & Vitshois Mwilambwe (DRC) in collaboration with Joca (João Paulo), Tashika, (Mandla) Xtra Mdlulu and Luvuyo Gope from the Drill Hall, Jules Batale, Emeka Owe, George Khumalo, Nadine Hutton, Christopher Patra and James Dylan Happe. Kin-Be-Jozi is an exchange project between artists and cultural networks from Bern, Kinshasa and Johannesburg. It started in the capital of Switzerland in October last year with a group of five artists from each place. The same group worked together in Kinshasa over December and congregated, with new participants, for the final residency in Johannesburg in early May. Each city presents a particular urban reality and ideology; each one features differently on a global scale. Kin-Be-Jozi seeks to navigate points of connection and disconnection that arise out of the engagement between the artists, geographic distances and specific moments in the life of each city. With a focus on process and dialogue, the artists have been researching and working in the east end of inner city Johannesburg for 6 weeks, responding to what they ‘found’ and were looking for. Many of the resulting collaborations and performances have been impulsive and site-specific, as much as they have followed the arguments each artist brought to the group. A range of interventions grew out of interactions with the people and places that make up the metropolitan neighbourhoods of Joubert Park, Doornfontein, Yeoville and Hillbrow (gyms, boxing rings, clubs, vacant cinemas, fresh produce markets and historical sites). On Friday June 15th, the artists and their collaborators will present selected work/arguments at August House, where they have been living and working. Starting from 5.30pm onwards, it will include in-situ installations, projections and performances on End Street. Expect to see a dialogue in progress – documentation of interventions and experiences, live performances that play on random commonalities...
Represent Recommends: Gallery Momo
There was something so authentic about the Gallery Momo, the second last stop on our whirlwind 5 gallery tour in Rosebank on a Saturday afternoon. Our souls were already topped up by the mind-blowing artistic talent we had witnessed at the Alliance, the David Krut (MUST SEE!) and the Goodman (MUST SEE!) and we wondered why all the galleries were so empty when they should have been buzzing. Then we got to the MOMO gallery in 7th ave Parktown North – we have been meaning to visit for ages. One of the true highlights of our gallery adventure was just how welcoming and friendly the faces at nearly all the galleries were – and Momo was no exception when, within minutes, the interesting and charming down-to-earth owner Monna Mokoena, came out of his way to chat to us and welcome us to his beautifully designed gallery that is home to many an unusual contemporary artwork. Monna had us hook, line and sinker- his tales of contemporary hot and happening South African artists and their backstories keeping us wide-eyed and wanting more. That’s why we’ll be going back this Thursday to the opening of Andrew Tshabangu’s photographic exhibition and that’s why you should be joining us too. For what happiness is there in life without the arts? (Editorista’s latest existential theory!) See u there. Andrew Tshabangu – biog: Born in 1966 in Soweto, Andrew has studied at a number of institutions, amongst them at the Institute of Advancement for Journalism in 1998 and at the Alexandra Community art centre in Johannesburg. He taught photography at the Children’s Photography Workshop, 1995 and in 1998 and 1999 he taught at both the Market Photo Workshop and post Matric photography courses. In 1998 he was an artist in residency at the Gasworks Art Studio, London. Tshabangu’s experience in documenting the spiritual ceremonies of black communities came into play in capturing the rituals of daily life in an African metropolis. As a photographer he is renowned for smoky, atmospheric lighting that lends a mystical element to his images. ANDREW TSHABANGU @ MOMO CITY IN TRANSITION 14 JUNE – 07 JULY OPENING THURSDAY 14 JUNE @ 18H30 52 7TH AVENUE PARKTOWN NORTH JOHANNESBURG T: +27 11 327 3247 http://www.gallerymomo.com/...
Wear your Converse and party on
We’re so sick of bouncers looking at our “tekkie-covered” feet with disdain, declaring that we shall not enter unless we’re in ‘proper shoes.’ How much more comfy, fabulara and danceable can you get than Converse? Damn – isn’t that what shoes are supposed to be about? Any venue that bounces us for not wearing some ugly pointy shoes gets written off our list. Right after our mad friend tells them where to stick it. So get revenge on all those steroid dumbsters and go to the Converse party this weekend in your Converse and get in for free… Parties in Jozi and Durbs. Here’s the deal click on the flyer for more info but apparently it’s going to be “original.” Converse celebrates true Originality with a series of events held in top urban nightspots. Free entry to Converse wearers. In addition to music, vibe and entertainment; there are unique prizes to be won. Parties will be held on 15th June at Roka in Jozi and on the 14th June at The BAT Centre in...
Represent Review & photos: 5FM Soweto
She’s just landed in Joburg and already AmorAmor’s getting down ekasi – see some pics here: Man! What do you say about a 5FM house music gig in Soweto? First thing that comes to mind: “What took them so long?” This past Saturday a bunch of us from Represent had the pleasure of being part of 5FM’s first ever broadcast of the Saturday Surgery live and direct from the Backroom, Pimville, Soweto. Roger Goode’s CD launch tour chose a brilliant venue for their last stop. The Backroom is stylish, funky and spacious. So funky that the model set pulled in around 9pm and ensconced themselves in the VIP area. We were loving the kasi drinking style of one bottle and several glasses or a smokey ice-bucket teetering with cold beverages to keep the table happy all night long… so much better than to-ing-and fro-ing to the bar. Everyone was working the smart-casual dress-code with flair (even us average Joes), the people were friendly, the vibe was relaxed and hopping and the music was perfect for an easy night out. Combine all this and you get a club that holds it’s own against any of Jozi’s “up-market” night venues, without being snobby. Granted for non-locals, getting there is not for the faint of heart (I’d be lost for sure if it wasn’t for our navigator) but this just means you gotta get you some friends that know the way. On the way to the party we all wondered why this was the first time 5FM is broadcasting their popular dance show live from Soweto and how they would be received. I mean, we are all aware of how hard the station has been working to broaden their demographic base- but, have their efforts been successful? There was no queue when we arrived around 6:30 (press release said first set at 6pm) and only a few people inside. Let’s be honest, we were worried! Was 5FM going to be rejected as a vestige of the whitening (I made that up) of our African culture? Or would they prove that they can bridge the gap and bring it home? We decide to play it neutral and write off the slow turn-out to the fact that no self-respecting party animal leaves the house before 7pm at the earliest. We were right. Around 8 the crowd started pouring in (still early for Jozi) and by 9 it was pumping. Not the over-flowing, two-block-waiting line we’re all led to believe follows the 5fm gigs, but very respectable. Whether this was due to 5FM’s popularity or the naturally inviting nature of the people of Soweto… well I’ll leave the...
Represent Review: Storm in a Teacup
Represent is so much richer for the wonderful flavour that our Representah Reuben “The Matrix” Malema’s words bring to our community. Reuben caught “Storm in a Teacup” , one of the performances featured in the showcase of Wits School of Arts “Masters’ and Honours’ students research projects… as usual, he gave it the “Full Matrix”. See some photo’s here: A masterpiece of skillful art direction, well designed stage décor, a bag of laughs to last the whole week and flawless film-noir expertise! These are but a few of the phrases used to describe the grand finale of the little over 45 minutes – 3 member cast, music-filled theatrical satire: A Storm in a Teacup by Team Best Productions (Wits Theatre). The setting is a fast-paced disastrous office ambience, made more apparent by the relentlessly authoritarian company boss – Mr. Bill Sampson (played by Bryan van Niekerk), who seems to be lost in a care-free; self-centered life rather than effectively steering the reigns of his family’s enterprise. Storyline: The Christmas party co-ordinator, Zetie (played by Naomi van Niekerk) gets ditched by (already paid for) one “DJ Spear” at the eleventh hour. She also has to deal with a Father Christmas – Patrick (played by Asher Stoltz) who’s not too keen to be resident Santa clause, but would rather make known his secret affection for the worker-bee: Zetie. The story is an all too familiar experience for many corporate employees who get engaged in the hustle and bustle of organizing the much anticipated annual company Christmas party. And from the immediate reciprocity of many an audience member, the play reeled–out a somewhat timely aha! moment which I dare call a majority affirmation of a very noticeable and much appreciated “dé jà vu”! This play was nothing like any of the other plays that I’ve seen before and its director (Gordon Lindsay) strongly concurred with my statement by alerting me to the fact that Team Best (as they affectionately call themselves) went to elaborate lengths to push the boundaries and to a certain degree radically warp traditional theatre styles by “literally staging the play inside a collection of hand-held aluminum rectangle frames”. The unusual props not only produced a creative visual effect pointing to the “behind the scenes” brewing of “a storm in a teacup”, but also captivated the mesmerized audience’s attention, pulling their concentration to each “framed-in scene” while still having a full perspective of the entire set – nothing else, but a given! Like any well narrated contemporary adult story; A Storm in a Teacup has many of the usual elements which characterize such theatrical acts, vis-à-vis: Jealousy amongst colleagues (for the only girl!), hidden passion, rush decisions made in an...
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