It was as if Johannesburg knew I was leaving the way Gemini season began in the city. Open Studios was on & Iris and I were ready to indulge.
The vibration was already sky high, I had a small bottle of gin and joy in my face and I genuinely had candid conversations with some of the artists this time around.
I learnt that all creatives are people that consider themselves a little awkward. Art is a safe way for us to speak our feelings without feeling completely naked. However, the act of sharing the art itself is a very vulnerable conversation with whoever wishes to consume it.
These are some of my favourite art pieces arranged house by house.
The artists are tagged on each of the videos so you can reach out and buy their work. Where an artist is not tagged, please add their name on the comments.
Asisebenze greeted me with a Swati piece by Samantha Maseko, I went to second floor & got offered wine at Michael Sekelane studio & by the time Iris arrived I was back downstairs discussing work inspired by titties😊. We also met Zamani Xaba’s work which deeply explored nudity in the context of culture & the concept that we all have beaten wings.
We went to the Living Arts Emporium which had an array of work, although you don’t get to interact with the actual studios, you got to see some of the artists and their work was popping !
We took a break at Victoria yards and the one studio open there had a strong image of Thokozani Mthiyane & Ayanda Mabulu so we rushed to Ellis House, 5th Floor, and had a good time engaging with the brighter yellow energy of the studio.
We ended our day at August House & I so enjoyed Art – Wande’s Golden Goat imagery. I enjoyed the Swati reference in the headline piece. It was solid & the last artist we engaged was Justin Dingwall, who mentioned his work this year was for the soft boys which I found particularly beautiful & representative.
So Iris and I rushed back to have a meal & take it all in. I was so proud of her ability to push me to see all the houses. We went back home so overwhelmed with excitement & inspired by richness of it all.
