Represent Recommends: Africa Remix
We couldn’t believe the number of SUV’s lining up in a long wait to enter the grounds of the JAG in Joubert Park yesterday arvie – the number of people streaming into the gallery gave us a glimpse into an ideal world where art is as popular as sport. See our pics here. Have you spotted the numerous street posters featuring a colourful African pirate advertising the Africa Remix art exhibition? The marketing of this wonderful collection of 85 African artists from 25 African countries and the diaspora could not be more thorough – it is a MUST SEE and if you miss it, you miss out. The exhibition has been showcased to the world and now finds itself (appropriately) for the first time ever on African soil – however this is the last chance to catch it. It was quite overwhelming to step into a courtyard seething with people all listening to the speeches at the official opening of Africa Remix and we found ourselves preferring to wander around the enormous gallery poking our noses into all the installations, nooks, crannies and spaces… It is ongoing, unending, mind-blowing, fantastic… eventually, just before we hit sensory overload we decided to stop while we were ahead and come back another time for more. There is no way you can take it all in in one go. So make sure you pencil in a number of visits to the Joburg Art Gallery over the next few months to celebrate the wealth of some of the finest artist’s Africa has to offer – it’s on till September. See our pictures of the traffic, some of the art, the patrons and the speeches by clicking here. Africa Remix – which will be held at the Johannesburg Art Gallery from June 24 to September 30 – features the work of more than 85 artists from 25 countries on the African continent and the Diaspora. This is the first time it has been seen in Africa. Never before in the history of the continent has an exhibition of such magnitude focusing exclusively on Africa been shown to African audiences. Arriving to celebrate this unique occasion is the Cameroon-born, Paris-based curator and critic Simon Njami as well as number of artists including Goddy Leye, Samuel Fosso, Barthélémy Toguo, Bili Bidjocka and Pascale Marthine Tayou, Aimé Ntakiyica, Ingrid Mwangi, Antonio Ole, Benyounès Semtati, Mohamed El Baz, Mounir Fatmi, Dilomprizulike, Joël Andrianomearisoa, Myriam Mihindou, Cheick Diallo, Amal Kenawy, Moataz Nasr, Patrice Felix Tchicaya and Loulou Cherinet. South African artists included in the exhibition are Jane Alexander; Willie Bester; Wim Botha; Andries Botha; Tracey Derrick; Marlene Dumas; David Goldblatt; Jackson Hlungwani; William...
Represent Review: Imperial Russian Ballet
Representah Werner scored some points with his wifey by sweeping her off to the Imperial Russian Ballet at the Civic aka Nelson Mandela Theatre. He says it’s a must see – so go on… treat your lady. See it! But hurry it’s showing from now ’till the 24th June. It is not very often that we have the privilege of being captivated by truly world class performances from international artists. Well, if you have been sitting on the sideline waiting for such an event, the wait is finally over. The Imperial Russian Ballet troupe is currently visiting South Africa and thrilling audiences for a limited number of performances. As the name suggests the group is from Moscow and was founded in 1994 by legendary Russian ballet dancer Maya Plisetskaya. The company has already toured several countries including diverse countries such as Australia, Japan, Germany and many more. The choreography, albeit mostly classical, tends to lean to the modernist style unique to performances we have learnt to expect from Russia. The stage design, costumes and wonderful music is only outdone by the incredible talent of the performers. The programme is unique in the sense that it is broken into two distinctive acts consisting of a number of interpretations of well known ballet masterpieces. The first act is dedicated to George Bizet’s “Carmen” and is a truly a fitting introduction to an evening of spectacular dance. The second act comprises of a number of restyled ballets that include “Swan Lake”, “Nutcracker”, “Don Quixote” and “Orpheus in the Underworld”. Audiences will be overwhelmed by the wealth of talent that exists within the troupe and left breathless by the masterful performances of dancers like Anastasia Mikheikina, Nariman Bekzhanov and Kirill Rad. The repertoire of the cast includes numerous well known ballets and it is clearly evident that the production and performers are set to thrill audiences worldwide for quite some time to come. The production is currently staged at the Nelson Mandela Theatre and runs from 19th to the 24th of June 2007. Lovers of the performing arts should note that this is truly one production that is not to be missed. Details: Venue: NELSON MANDELA THEATRE Date: June 19th – 24th Price: (from) R125 inclusive of booking fee THE IMPERIAL RUSSIAN BALLET IMPERIAL RUSSIAN BALLET was founded in April 1994, on the initiative of the legendary Russian ballet dancer Maya Plisetskaya. The group’s name is a tribute to both former “emperors” of the stage – immortal founders of the Russian ballet stage, and to the Emperor’s family, that had made a great historical contribution into native culture, including the foundation of the Bolshoi and Mariinsky Theatres....
Represent Interview: KGAUZA DUBE
We like keeping an eye on some of the formidable people that we meet in life. Kgauhelo Dube is one of them. We love peeps who are full of their very own unique and unusual plans – but we REALLY love peeps who make them happen. Here’s one such person – self-created theatre producer “Kgauza” is taking her one-man show to the G-town festival – read all about how she made the change from PR into theatre and make sure to catch “Waiting for Thandiwe” in G-town. Big ups sisi and break a leg! You inspire us. “Waiting for Thandiwe” – Grahamstown Schedule Venue: Dicks Hall (in the Monument) Tickets: R50/ Students R40 July 2007: Mon 2 10:00 Tue 3 14:00 Wed 4 18:00 Thu 5 12:00 Fri 6 22:00 Sat 7 14:00 Represent: So Kgauza, give us the short version of your backstory if you don’t mind… from birth to now… KG: I am an energetic 25 year-old Pretorian … and have close affinity to my hometown…I think my personality is very reflective of Tshwane…sunny, jazzy and free-spirited. When I was growing up I never wanted anything to do with media or journalism because I used to miss my Mom, who was a busy journalist for the Sowetan…I guess, ironically, I ended up studying Integrated Marketing Communications and landed my first gig in PR and that’s when the media bug got me. After PR, I moved on to strategic planning within advertising, which I quite liked until I made a major move to give the ad game a bit of a break and apply my strategic thinking to advance the arts & culture fraternity, which definitely needs more support on the strategy side in order for it an economically viable industry. Theatre was a genre for me to decide on due to my love for it from an early age. I remember attending all the plays at the school festivals held in high school, yet…I’m not an actor. Momentarily, I am producing “Waiting for Thandiwe”, a romantic 1-man comedy under my baby…my company called Black Curtain Theatre Movement, in partnership with Lulama Masimi, who wrote and starred in the play. Black Curtain Theatre Movement aims to take theatre out of its conventional theatre confines, which at times doesn’t appeal to the youth and also and most importantly, make theatre cool! Another exciting project I am working on is the Newtown Women in Arts Festival; which is happening in August. I am the Deputy Festival Manager and am thoroughly excited about being part of the women-focused cultural revolution! Check out the http://www.newtown.co.za/ site in a few weeks for the programming! Represent: I remember you inviting...
Represent Review: The Invader
Catch The Invader this week at Wits Theatre – our Representah Linda gives us her view on the seemingly controversial play: I sit down in the Wits Amphitheatre, ready to watch the play “The Invader”. A very loud rock song is pulsing through the speakers, filling the auditorium. I can’t figure out what the song is because I don’t know any rock music released post-1992, when I finished school and began to exercise my long-awaited right to choose what music to listen to. But I digress…. The song is LOUD… but through it I can hear voices raised, people are fighting, a man and a woman. The argument seems to be coming from backstage, and seems quite incongruous with the song, so I’m wishing the stage manager would realise they’ve left the music on, and turn it off, because the play is about to start. It carries on though, and I start thinking… maybe there’s a serious argument backstage and the music is being played to drown it out while we wait. All kinds of scenarios are playing themselves out in my imagination about who is arguing – maybe the director cheated on his actress girlfriend, and she is now refusing to go on stage; or somebody is throwing an artistic tantrum about the props…(yeah I’m a gossip junkie, sometimes). The drama unfolds in my mind until I realise the backstage argument is part of the script. A young girl comes running out on stage, a pantsula type of dude right on her tail yelling and screaming all kinds of obscenities at her. She is running from him, trying to duck his hands slapping her, trying to outrun his feet kicking her, she’s frantically throwing whatever obstacle she can find into his path to slow him. But he catches up to her and assaults her. The scene is rough. He beats her, calls her a whore, and rapes her. All the while the rock tune continues playing, LOUD. While I want it to stop playing so I can hear better what he’s saying to her, I’m actually grateful it is playing, so I don’t have to hear it; and the song also distracts me from listening to her anguished screams. Much respect to the young actress, she will go far. This is the powerful opening scene of “The Invader”. The rest of the play is about the theme of rape and sexual violence – from the story of rape victims turned sexual aggressors, to women raped at a young age, who think they’ve dealt with the issue until it comes back to haunt them in adult life, to male victims of rape....
Represent Recommends: Sanza’s Soweto Map
Yesterday we bumped into our Swazi brother and fast-talking YFm morning breakfast host Sanza da Fanatik…He told us all about his gorgeous “Underground Jozi and Map of Soweto”. Having lost the original Jozi underground map that we acquired years ago, we immediately bought two! Great presents for friends, family and loved ones overseas. You can buy them at Exclusives or Xarra books in Newtown – ours were R30 each – what a bargain guys! Congrats to Sanza and his partners Andrew and Tamiko for creating such a brilliant labour of love for our province of Gauteng. Hope you sell millions. Lucille Davie of the (wonderful) Johannesburg City Website gives us more info: OFI, cheri, tymer, hoezit, hola, ntwana, sharp, born frees, malume, mtshanas . . . are just some of the terms you will learn to prepare for a trip to Soweto, clutching your Underground Jozi map tightly. The latest map in the series features South Africa’s most famous township, Soweto, equipping the visitor and resident with knowledge of taxi hand signals, different hairstyles and their names, stylish shoes, greetings, hand-shaking Soweto style, and other local customs. You’ll learn about places and people who have made Soweto famous, like Hector Pieterson; the Regina Mundi Catholic Church; Vilakazi Street and its two famous residents, Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu; Avalon Cemetery; the Credo Mutwa Park; and boxer Baby Jake Matlala. You’ll also learn about “cellphone cultcha”, and that “no self-respecting Sowetan would be seen without one”. This colourful map is drawn by artist and gallery owner Andrew Lindsay. His partners in Underground Jozi are Sanza Tshabalala, DJ and cook, and Tamiko Sher, who has done the research for the map. Read all about it...
Catch “The Winter Show” at Afronova
We know we’re on an arty tip but we’re loving all the galleries and exhibits about at the moment. We hope our enthusiasm is infectious and that you’re making a plan to catch some art soon! Get on down to Newtown to one of our favourite downtown galleries, Afronova, for their next installation aptly titled “The Winter Show” (from 22 June). Diarise! The Winter Show features a rare selection of works by some of the finest artists from South Africa and the continent. Artists showcased include Chéri Samba, Chicken Man, Esther Mahlangu, Solly Cissé, Durant Sihlalhi and Willem Boshoff to name a few. Exhibition runs until Friday 13 July Gallery Hours Tuesday to Friday : 13 :00 to 19 :00 Saturday 13 :00 to 17 :00 Contacts e: afronova@tiscali.co.za w: http://www.afronova.com/ c: +27 (0) 83 726 59 06 The gallery is just across the Market Theatre entrance Safe parking corner Miriam Makeba and Gwigwi Mrwebi St – Newtown Po box 3205 – Parklands 2121 – Johannesburg – South Africa...
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