Transformative works at Alchemy exhibition in Cape Town ahead of 1-54 London
South African talent often receives international recognition before being celebrated locally. Not so with Alchemy, the collaborative collection curated by Spier Arts Trust (SAT), which will be displayed at HUB Gallery until 25 October 2024. The exhibition serves as a precursor to SAT’s Nando’s-sponsored showcase at the 2024 edition of 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair in London from 10 to 13 October 2024, which will display works that were specifically produced in a collaborative way.
Echoing the aspirations of SAT’s selected 1-54 collection that will be travelling to London, the process of collaboration and the melding of ideas is an integral part of Alchemy. Cape Town’s HUB Gallery show features more than 20 professional artists who have collaborated with highly skilled artisans from HUB Mosaic Studio, Qaqambile Bead Studio and the Keiskamma Art Project, to bring their concepts to life in a co-created fashion.
HUB Mosaic Studio continues the ambition of Spier Arts Academy, an educational platform that equipped apprentices with practical and business skills to boost their commercial viability. The studio focuses on creating collaborative opportunities between fine artists and skilled mosaic artisans.
Qaqambile Bead Studio is a beading studio which has produced a portfolio of artworks embraced by collectors. It contributes significantly to design elements at Nando’s outlets globally, working closely with professional artists to translate brushstrokes into panels of thousands of beads in an incredible process that relies on a synergistic working relationship between artists and Qaqambile.
Founded in 2000 and based in Hamburg, Eastern Cape, the Keiskamma Art Project produces major textile artworks, which aid in the archiving of the rural Eastern Cape’s collective memory and the preservation of oral history.
In 2023, SAT started working with this extraordinary studio in a genuine collaboration between artists and embroiderers to co-create wholly unique tapestries. Connecting artists from around the country with embroiderers at Keiskamma Art Project, these artworks demonstrate the power of community, knowledge sharing, culture and heritage.
The collaborative works exhibited on Alchemy have been made with hand-cut glass and stone, glass seed beads and wool embroidery. The pieces are three-dimensional, tactile, and representative of the artisanal finesse of the contributors.
From the evocative monochrome of Ronald Muchatuta and HUB Mosaic Studio’s ‘ZviShiri’ (The Birds), to the stark contrasts of pastel painter Hanneke Benadé’s alliance with Qaqambile Bead Studio, Alchemy is a rich and varied representation of South African artistic talent. Included in the exhibition are seven pieces on loan from the Spier Collection, including Tamlin Blake’s memorable floor mosaic titled ‘The Threaded Floor’. Says Blake: ‘The Threaded Floor is a symbol of the creation of new spaces, new projects and bringing in new energy. I hope it is also a gentle reminder of history and legacy.’
Many of the pieces that form part of Alchemy are infused with socio-political and personal context. For instance, Nkosinathi Quwe’s piece tells the story of his isiXhosa heritage, while Meshack Tembani’s artwork honours the strong presence of female leaders from his Crossroads upbringing.
All this makes for an intriguing exhibition of collaboratively formed pieces that embrace an interesting and evocative use of materials. Don’t miss the opportunity to view these exceptional works that embody the magic of co-creation.
Exhibition details
Where: HUB Gallery, Union House, 25 Commercial Street, Cape Town
When: 5 September to 25 October 2024
