AFRICAN ART SPACES REIMAGINES A NEW ENCOUNTER WITH ART
SPACES AFRICA, in collaboration with SA Creatives, recently announced the debut of AFRICAN ART SPACES, an unconventional multisensory exhibition experience aimed at redefining the creative landscape. This initiative is curated for artists by artists, ensuring an authentic and inclusive platform for expression.
Building on the success of previous initiatives such as AFRICAN FASHION SPACES and AFRICAN MUSIC SPACES, and following the intentions shared during the CR8TOR-CON platform launch in April, AFRICAN ART SPACES continues SPACES AFRICA‘s mission to reimagine creative environments. The goal is to transform these environments into dynamic platforms for collaboration, innovation, and creativity.
AFRICAN ART SPACES brings together Southern Africa‘s most compelling multidisciplinary creatives in contemporary street art, design, and installation art, creating a platform that is not limited to any specific art discipline. This past week, the culture-friendly Playground in Braamfontein, Johannesburg—essentially a large parking lot—was transformed into an artistic escape. The exhibition featured exclusive and purchasable collections from ten trailblazing exhibitors, including Cee The Creator, Kim Van Vuuren, Naledi Modupi, Zee Feels, Njabulo Hlophe, That Art Kid Lari, Ellsphee, Damn Vandal, OUTSIDETHEWOODS, and Joburg Ash.
The African Art Spaces exhibition kicked off with a launch event on Wednesday, 24 July and opened to the public the following night on Thursday, 25 July. Additionally, a surprise exhibition event was hosted on Saturday, 27 July in Durban, South Africa, where another exciting collaboration was revealed between Robertsons Spice, African Art Spaces, and six of the ten exhibitors.
This collaboration saw a unique, organic approach to brand and talent collaboration, celebrating Robertsons’ 100 years campaign through a collection of self-expressive curated artworks encapsulating the essence of Robertsons‘ creativity and food, titled “THE ART OF FLAVOUR.” The artists involved included Naledi Modupi, Zinhle Sithebe (Zee Feels), Njabulo Hlophe, Larissa Mwanyama (That.Art.Kid.Lari), Sphelele Gumede (Ellsphee), and Nolan C Kalwandu (OUTSIDETHEWOODS). This collaboration is significant because, since the inception of the platform in 2016, Spaces Africa has been highly selective in its partnerships, committed to authentic cultural representation. This latest collaboration marks the first official brand rollout for the platform.
The surprise exhibition in Durban was hosted at The Pencil, a prestigious establishment home to top business professionals, creatives, socialites, and philanthropists. The Pencil houses one of the largest and most valuable art collections in the country, and all the artworks from the AFRICAN ART SPACES exhibition will now be displayed there for the upcoming month.
The entire three-day experience was hosted by media personalities Leddi G and Siya ‘Scoop’ Ngwekazi on opening night, Kabelo Moremi on Thursday, and Luthando Shosha at The Pencil in Durban. Attendees enjoyed eclectic sounds and performances from artists such as Maglera Doe Boy, Wendy Ntinezo, FifLaaa, Deniece Marz, and Chaxllie, with additional multi-layered sonic performances from Shekhina, A-REECE, Yolophonik, Marcus Harvey, Khuli Chana, Tinx, Franadilla, Namakau Star, Lenzowannabenzo, and more.
“At SPACES AFRICA, we are dedicated to elevating creative ambition through authentic and unique collaboration. By combining our expertise within the agency organization alongside the unconventional Umbrella platform that is SPACES AFRICA, we hope to elevate and usher through a unique and exciting symbiotic relationship between creatives, platforms, and brands in helping to reshape our entire industry. AFRICAN ART SPACES is an example of that, a platform curated for the unconventional multidisciplinary creatives in facilitating credible platform representation where there is a lack of representation for artists alike.”
Fresh AF and SPACES AFRICA CCO, Jay Kayembe, stated,
Naturally, the event attracted a diverse audience of creatives, tastemakers, art collectors, culture connoisseurs, marketers, curators, visual storytellers, and curious explorers from all industry sectors, marking the beginning of an annual celebration of the region’s rich creative diversity.
“AFRICAN ART SPACES marks the dawn of a new era in art exhibition experiences. Unlike traditional formats, this initiative places artists at the forefront, emphasizing their pivotal role. By fostering direct connections with brands, we empower artists to innovate and collaborate creatively, setting a new standard for artistic expression and commercial success,”.
affirmed Fresh AF Managing Director Ally Fathana
Attendees noted the vibrant atmosphere, the meticulously curated art pieces, and the engaging performances that breathed new life into the city. The event was praised for its ability to bring together a community of creatives and art lovers, creating a memorable and impactful experience that many hope to see continue in the future.
AFRICAN ART SPACES REIMAGINES A NEW ENCOUNTER WITH ART IN JHB GALLERY
AFRICAN ART SPACES REIMAGINES A NEW ENCOUNTER WITH ART IN DBN GALLERY
