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...
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...
TICKETS! Awesome RJ Benjamin @ 88
*To win a pair of tickets for Wednesday please email the editor with subject RJ, include your name, age and cell number asap!* Here’s a chance to get up close with rising star RJ Benjamin (read Represent interview here) at an intimate acoustic session at 88 in Norwood – we don’t know Natalia from CT but let’s give her a warm Jozi welcome… and Menage-a-Trois rings a bell – we’ll try send someone to cover it. And we’ll try and get some tickets while we are at it. RJ Benjamin – Natalia (Cpt) – Menage a Trois @ 88 Lounge – Wednesday 13th June An evening of acoustic RnB, Soul, Folk, Pop and just maybe a little bit of Rock is in store when RJ Benjamin takes to the stage supported by a guitarist, drummer and some surprise guest appearances, alongside Natalia the special guest folk /pop singer songwriter from Cape Town, and the beloved trio from Pretoria, Ménage a Trois. Dates: Wednesday 13th June Venue: 88 Lounge Address: 114 William Road, Norwood Entrance: R40, Members R30 Info: 076-590-0564 or MovementMedia@gmail.com Websites:; http://www.88.co.za/ – www.rock.co.za/natalia Line Up: RJ Benjamin – Natalia (Cpt) – Ménage a Trois (Pta) Write Ups RJ Benjamin He’s established himself as a regular on local radio stations, and has been hailed by some as the one of the best composer/singer/musicians this country has ever produced. His debut album, Who I Am is best described as funkadelic neo soul played by top jazz session musicians and accompanied by RJs sultry, sexy voice, the album is skilful, intelligent and highly accessible to music lovers across the board. Look out for his second album offering due for release soon, and expect some surprise vocal guests alongside a guitarist and drummer. Ménage à Trois The trio performs an exclusive blend of bass driven funk and folk rock with each of the band members contributing their own initiative to the project. The music trancends many different styles and genres, and draws from an array of musical influences, including Ani DiFranco and The Dave Matthews Band. Natalia The young singer song writer from the Mother City is currently on her second tour of Joburg, having performed the Cape Town circuit since the tender age of 15, she’s already had the honour of sharing the stage with the legendary Rodriguez on his latest SA tour....
6 Fine Artistes at the Alliance.F this week
We’re always raving about the EXCELLENT cultural projects put on by both the Alliance Francaise and IFAS (French Institute). Rest assured if you need a quality arty or musical experience that you can count on, head on over to a French gig with confidence. BRAVO! There’s a new art exhibition opening at the Alliance from Wed 6 June featuring 6 female artistes – it’s only on till Friday so do your best to get there as soon as you can! For those who of us who like to hang around pouting and eating fromage with French flowing all round, click on the flyer image for more info on opening night. Read about the artists below and for more info and directions visit the Alliance website here . VALERIE SAVARY – Valérie Savary, Portrait de femmeacrylic, 60 x 50 cm Valerie Savary started painting at the age of eight and, for the following 10 years, took drawing lessons which taught her the techniques of mastering subjects such as the ocean, trees and portraiture. She then completed her basic training by drawing nudes for another two years. Acrylics are her preferred medium, which she finds more modern and practical than oils or watercolours. KIRA OWEN – Kira Owen, Ngwene womanacrylic on canvas, 76 x 61 cm Since childhood, Kira Owen has lived in many different countries and has always had a keen interest in art and design, often influenced by her immediate surroundings. She studied decorative painting, specialising in faux finishes and trompe l’oeil, at the Hampstead Decorative Art School in London and undertook a number of commissions for private clients. In the late 90’s she spent four years in New York City working for a graphic design agency where she was exposed to many different creative techniques. AUDE FACQUET – Aude Facquet, Femme Zuluacrylic, 26 x 21 cm Aude Facquet paints primarily with oils, preferably with a palette knife. For the past year, she has been trying to use other mediums such as acrylics, pencil or Indian ink and paint different subjects such as portraits or perspective. She says that, for her, painting is not only a matter of serious study and relaxation but also a way of analysing her own sensibility. CATHERINE BEILLARD-DIJKHOF – Catherine Beillard, Afriqueoil, 40 x 40 cm Catherine was born in 1945 in Gray, France. Her father was a doctor (GP). Her mother, a teacher of classics, was also a painter who exhibited with the Salon des Independants from 1965 to 1969. In 2000, after 34 years as a medical practitioner in different parts of France and overseas, as well as raising four children, she retired from professional life and moved with her...
Represent Review: Athol Fugard’s Victory
Thanks to JohnO for his take on Fugard’s latest play at the Market Theatre – he says it’s a must see but not for the faint-hearted! : Wow ! The only thing saving us from freezing to death after the latest cold spell was the tension and drama on the stage of the Laager theatre at the Market. A packed house of cold feet and wide eyes got to see Athol Fugard’s latest effort Victory. And what an effort it was ! I was initially drawn to the piece because of Cobus Rossouw – one of my acting idols from yesteryear but what I got to experience was nothing short of breathtaking. The cast consists of Cobus Rossouw whom everyone may remember from the 70’s and 80’s during which he invariably played a villain or strict father in every second movie or television series. Those lucky enough to have seen “Die groen factor”, will realize that you do not get any better Cobus than that. His performance in Victory was good – although after not seeing him for so many years, I immediately noticed that the years have been tallying up. The rest of the cast was made up of two relative newcomers – Ameera Patel and Wayne van Rooyen. These two stole the show and delivered a performance that can only be described as brilliant and disturbing. Where have these two young actors been hiding? Although the piece tackles a very serious topic – poverty and racism- Fugard still managed to inject some laughs into the evening. The ensemble delivered the laughs and when the tension and absolute terror came, they delivered the goods, pushing the audience to the edge of their seats. I have never experienced the realism and absolute desolate frustration that Wayne van Rooyen delivered. At times he was foaming at the mouth, literally! There were a few scenes where he slapped Cosbus Rossouw’s character around which was positively shocking leaving the whole audience gasping for air. To get back to the technical side – the direction was excellent. The set was simple but suited the piece perfectly. The lighting and music were done brilliantly, communicating the mood – not leaving you confused as to what’s going on. To close – this play is not for the faint hearted. I went into it expecting the usual black vs. white story – which it is not. The piece starts of with a bang, introducing the characters, changes into what your mind can only fathom as a tragedy and then ends on a sad and very disturbing note. No fluffy animals and sing along songs here –...
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