Art, Photography and Craft: South Africa, Australia, Hong Kong

Sovereign Art Award Finalist, Chris Wake Showing at Amelia Johnson Contemporary,
Hong Kong 21st April - 3rd May 2009
Click Here for invite
Click Here to view the exhibition

Southern Exchange presents at

Amelia Johnson Contemporary

Woven Cultures
Award winning female aboriginal artists from the renowned Peppimenarti and Papunya Tula communities

1 – 20 April 2009
Amelia Johnson Contemporary
6-10b Shin Hing Street, NoHo, Hong Kong

Opening Reception
2 April 2009, 6-9pm

Contemporary Aboriginal Art

30 June - 10 July 2008
Cat Street Gallery, Hollywood Road, Hong Kong

Presenting leading artists from the Warlukurlangu, Papunya Tula and Utopian communities.
(Attend the opening reception, please register via our Contact Us page - Click Here.)

Presented by SOUTHERN EXCHANGE, at GALLERY ALOFT,

1st Floor, 660 Darling Street, Rozelle, 24 September – 11 October 2008

Zulu ‘izimbenge’ and ‘izinkhamba’, beautiful wire baskets and burnished beer pots feature in JABULISA[1] – an exhibition introducing contemporary South African art craft, and photography by Garth Meyer that opens at Gallery Aloft on September 24.  Works exhibited by leading artists demonstrate how traditional forms are being worked with in exciting new ways.

Fine basket works by Master Weaver’s Simon Mavundla, Zodwa Maphumulo and her daughters, Octavia Gwala and Alice Gcaba will be shown alongside work by emerging weavers from their communities. These fabulous ‘hardwire’ and ‘softwire’ baskets are woven with brightly coloured PVC covered ‘telephone wire’ and represent an exciting new trajectory in South African craft and design that is fast becoming iconic. Development of these new forms began in the 1980s when artists, designers and local Zulu people came together to draw inspiration from traditional ‘imbenge’, beer pot lids, to create new basket forms.

Exquisite pots created by new generation potters draw inspiration from traditional ‘izinkhamba’, Zulu beer pots. Works by Jabu and Thembi Nala, Clive Sithole and Ian Garrett showcase the innovative directions taken since Nesta Nala led the revival of Zulu pottery over twenty years ago. The pots are coil worked, double burnished and twice pit fired, to acquire the luscious sheen and jet dark colours for which they are famous. That men such as Clive Sithole and Ian Garrett (a white South African) have embraced a tradition once firmly considered women’s work attests to the new spirit of South Africa today.

Photography by award winning film maker Garth Meyer reflects his interest in life at the interface of traditional and modern cultures in Africa. His evocative black and white photography offer something of a spirit of place to the exhibition.

Many artists represented in JABULISA enjoy strong recognition in South Africa and internationally with works collected by institutional and private collectors. Master Weavers regularly present at the Santa Fe International Folk Art Fair. The art of ‘hardwire’ and ‘softwire’ basket weaving also provides critical employment and income opportunities for people who live in township communities such as Siyanda, located near Durban.

JABULISA OPENING EVENT, 24 SEPTEMBER 6:00 – 8:00PM AT GALLERY ALOFT

For further information:

SOUTHERN EXCHANGE:  
Anthea Fawcett, Curator, ph: 02 9356 4471/ 0419 478856

GALLERY ALOFT: Tania Wursig, Kristina Brenke, Directors/Artists, 
ph: 02 9555 4305,  www.galleryaloft.com

A Collection of Australian Aboriginal Art - Gallery Sejul

Southern Exchange is honoured to present some of the most dynamic and exciting Aboriginal artists at work in Australia today. We are delighted to represent and promote the work of these artists in South Korea and we take pride in being able to offer South Korean audiences and collectors exclusive opportunities to appreciate the work of some of Australia’s most outstanding Indigenous artists.

Seoul International Print, Photo & Edition Works Art Fair
Hangaram Art Gallery, Seoul Arts Centre, October 3 -7, 2007

Contemporary Aboriginal Art, Millennium Seoul Hilton 1 - 30 September 2007

Heart & Soul – Community works from South Africa
Culture Gallery, Hantaek Botanical Gardens, Yongin, Korea, 10-28 May, 2007

Australia Day Celebrations at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, Seoul

Sisters Dreaming, KwanHoon Gallery, Insadong, Seoul  

Contemporary Colours - Modern Art Craft from South Africa , Gallery Ju, Seoul

October 2006: South African Craft Presentation, South African Ambassador's Residence, Seoul

Korea International Handicraft Expo 
The Korea Handicraft Association, COEX, Gangnam, Seoul, June 2 - 5, 2006