Zipho Dayile. Untitled. Laminated Photographic Print, 2007.
Themba Tsotsi (foreground). Untitled. Mixed media installation, 2007. Unathi Sigenu (Background). Shackled. Mixed media installation, 2007
Kemang wa Lehulere and Unathi Sigenu. Mixed Media installation, 2007.
Khanyisile Mbongwa. Untitled. Video Still (Installation view), 2007.
Khanyisile Mbongwa. Untitled. Video Still (Installation view), 2007.
Kemang wa Lehulere and Unathi Sigenu. Black people don’t read. Mixed media installation, 2007
Kemang wa Lehulere and Unathi Sigenu. Black people don’t read. Mixed media installation, 2007.
Themba Tsotsi. Untitled. Mixed media installation, 2007.
Themba Tsotsi. Mixed media installation, 2007.
Unathi Sigenu. Mixed media installation, 2007.
Gugulective Collaboration. Untitled. Map of Gugulethu on Paper, 2007.
Lonwabo Kilani. Bantu Label Beer. Mural. And Baas Lager Beer. 2007.
Kemang wa Lehulere. Untitled. Pre-School tables and chairs, installation view. 2007
Kemang wa Lehulere. Untitled. Pre-School tables and chairs, installation view. 2007
Kemang wa Lehulere. Untitled. Pre-School tables and chairs, installation view. 2007
Titled/ Untitled
Titled and Untitled were two exhibitions running parallel to each other in two distinctly different spaces. Untitled challenged the preconceived image and visual representation of shebeens in institutional and galleries spaces. This was done through the installation of tables and chairs from Kwa Mlamli, the shebeen which Gugulective has been using as it’s project space. It is often the case that shebeens are represented as poverty stricken spaces, lacking aesthetic-al and recreational values.
However, Gugulective is well aware that this is not always the case. Shebeens can and have been more than a drinking place; can be rather intellectually stimulating – a site where ideas are formulated and made real using poetry, spoken word, music, art and literature.
We also chose to name the show at Blank Projects Untitled due to the stereotyping that Gugulective has experienced as a “Black” artist collective and also to avert the attention back to Kwa Mlamli. By highlighting this issue we attempted to un-title ourselves from stereotypes and the “box-ing” of our individual and collective identity, this was done through the installation of our T-shirts and box-ing these together with elastic bands to bring attention to the issue.
Titled which was a one day event took place Kwa Mlamli and was the main show, not only addressed issues of accessibility but was an ongoing process of interrogating space, creating a space for people to engage in socio-spatial and political issues in “Post-Apartheid” South Africa in apartheid architecture. It is often a miss conception that “Black” people do not read, which lead to the creation of a study space in the bathroom and a sound installation in the toilet.
It has been established that one’s environment is a major determinant in one’s emotional and mental state. Individual identity is cherished and strengthened in periods of solitude and conditions…
These two spaces which are detached from the main building (house) have become spaces of solitude for individuals living in overcrowded homes, which is a prevailing factor in most townships. Over crowding which is also determined by the spacial and urban planning of townships give rise a number of many social problems, and this amongst many is the diameter of shebeens from schools. Kwa Mlamli is not an exception; however, there are no legislative laws which prevent this from being.
Gugulective produced work which interrogated aspects of orientation and disorientation with the participants of the show both “Black” and “Non Black”. We aimed at creating a space for both communities to participate with assertion or denial. This was a space for dialogue and self-analysis analysis in comparison with symbols that have psychologically and physically played part in our social construction, both in the past and contemporary surroundings.
Text by Kemang wa Lehulere
Participating artists:
Lonwabo Kilani
Khanyi Mbongwa
Unathi Sigenu
Zipho Dayile
Dathini Mzayiya
Themba Tsotsi
Kemang wa Lehulere
This work, unless otherwise expressly stated, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 South Africa License.
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