Johannesburg is a city with a story to tell, and the city’s artists share their unique perspectives through a variety of exciting events this week. From film and performance; to exhibitions, workshops, and photowalks, consider your art-inspired weekend sorted!
For a full guide to what’s on in Joburg, check out our online events calendar and subscribe to our newsletter guide to Joburg published every Thursday morning.
Here are the art events we recommend checking out this week.
ART FILM AND PERFORMANCE: White Box Jacket at The Centre for the Less Good Idea
FILM SCREENING AND PERFORMANCE FRI AUG 5 at 18:30 The Centre for the Less Good Idea presents a special screening of Brussels-based scenographer and filmmaker Sabine Theunissen’s animated film White Box Jacket, augmented with a live performance by South African dancer Thulani Chauke, and Benin-born percussionist Angelo Moustapha.
White Box Jacket is freely inspired by the photographic documentation of the 1897 Polarex expedition in which three men set off to fly over the North Pole in a hydrogen balloon and never returned. Their disappearance remained a mystery for over three decades until the remains of the expedition were discovered on White Island in August 1930. Theunissen will also provide more insight into the making of White Box Jacket in her film-lecture, A Reversable Journey. The performance and screening takes place at The Centre Space, 264 Fox Street, Arts on Main, Maboneng on Friday 5 Aug, 18:30. The film duration is 2h30min. Tickets cost R 100. Buy your tickets here.
EXHIBITION OPENING: Urban Soundscapes – Crafting Spaces of Belonging, Pat Mautloa at UJ Art Gallery
EXHIBITION OPENING EVENT SAT AUG 6 at 11:00 UJ Art Gallery presents a major new exhibition by Kagiso ‘Pat’ Mautloa, a veteran Joburg-based artist who is widely recognised as a pioneer of modernist painting in South Africa. In his painting, drawing, sculpture, and printmaking Mautloa regularly visits themes that document the beats and rhythms of urban life and the imagined worlds of the people who reside in the city. Mautloa will be showcasing never before seen artworks in an exhibition that celebrates the old and the new in an inspired showcase curated by Thabo Seshoke. The exhibition is on show until September 30. RSVP to the opening event here.
EXHIBITION: Dream Invisible Connections – Mary Sibande and Dorothy Kay Exhibition at Strauss & Co.
EXHIBITION OPEN UNTIL 12 AUG, Dream invisible Connections has been the latest success in an annual series of ongoing exhibitions by Strauss & Co. This exhibition pairs together two iconic female artists – Dorothy Kay and Mary Sibande – in a way that highlights the key dynamics between their lives and their work. This makes for powerful conversations between the works, re-enlivening historical context and shedding new light on the contemporary. Open Mon–Fri, 08:30–16:30 at Strauss & Co, 89 Central Street, Houghton, Johannesburg.
EXHIBITION OPENING: This Too Shall Come to Pass by Vivien Kholer at Gallery MOMO
EXHIBITION OPENING SAT AUG 6 at 11:00 Gallery MOMO presents this solo exhibition by Joburg-based experimental mixed media painter Vivien Kohler. Kohler’s work explores concepts of liminality within the city and its people, often portraying migration, marginalization, and displacement in the urban landscape of post-Apartheid South Africa. The figures in the body of work on show are seen levitating or floating, breaking away from negativity and suspended in moments of liberation. On show at Join Gallery MOMO, 52 7th Ave, Parktown North.
PHOTOGRAPHY WALK: Seven Colour Sundays with Through the Lens Collective
PHOTOWALK AND WORKSHOP SUN AUG 7 at 11:00, On every first Sunday of the month, Through the Lens Collective in Victoria Yards hosts a photowalk and Zine Workshop. Each month explores a different colour theme in a 3-hour workshop starting at the Through The Lens Collective in Victoria Yards. The workshop encourages cellphone photography only and is limited to 20 people. All materials for the Zine making workshop are provided. This month’s workshop is hosted by photographer Remofiloe Mayisela. Tickets R 200. Email throughthelensc@gmail.com to secure your space.
PRINTMAKING WORKSHOPS: Claudia Rivett-Carnac at Gallery 2
MONOTYPE WORKSHOP SAT AUG 6 at 13:00 & MIXED-MEDIA WORKSHOP TUE AUG 9 at 11:00 The Printing Girls and Gallery 2 host two exciting printmaking workshops to coincide with their current exhibition Miniatures in Print. The Printing Girls (TPG) is an all-female collective of South African-based artists who work in print and share their skills and art through collective events and exhibitions around the country. These workshops are hosted by artist and printer Cloudia Rivett-Carnac who founded her own professional printmaking workshop in 2013 called Chocolate Ink Studio and demonstrate printmaking skills that she uses in her own practice including screenprinting, monotype, monoprint, relief printing and intaglio. Takes place at Gallery 2, 142 Jan Smuts Ave, Parkwood. Workshops cost R 400 per person. To reserve your space contact info@gallery2.co.za.
CHILDREN’S DANCE & ART: HeadstART with Thonton Kabeya at Everard Read
CHILDREN’S DANCE & ART WORKSHOP SAT AUG 6 at 11:00
Everard Read Johannesburg hosts a dynamic childrens programme called HeadstART that aims to introduce children to art in an accessible, fun and relaxed environment. This session coincides with artist Thonton Kabeya’s vibrant exhibition Pasada. Bring your kids along to this exciting workshop where the artist will teach them how to dance to the spirit and tones of his Cuban-inspired paintings. All children are to be companied by an adult. Hosted at Everard Read Gallery Johannesburg, 6 Jellicoe Ave, Rosebank. Reserve your spot by contacting reception@everard.co.za.