Artists shine at 18th edition of FNB Art Joburg Fair

JOHANNESBURG - The FNB Art Joburg Fair shows never before seen artwork by renowned photographer Santu Mofokeng in an exhibition named Concert at Sewefontein.

It is described as a place where people are free to sing, dance and be free, adding that at the weekend, shebeens thrive, with black and white images showing exactly that.

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Sunday was the third and final day of the largest art fair in Africa, which hosted its 18th edition.

The fair’s managing director said the works shown there represent stories of African people and contribute to a larger discourse of Pan-Africanism, such as the photographs by Mofokeng.

One of the other artists exhibiting, Nthabiseng Kekana, whose work named Sankofa shows pieces including an installation of a grass mat, with cowry shells, incense and beer drinking vessels.

She said some of the materials were worn by her ancestors and the exhibition gives thanks to those who bestowed the gift of healing to her.

“It’s for people to go back to retrieve themselves, remember what was lost, for people to pick up pieces of what they lost along the way because in my context, it was a spiritual journey and in other people’s contexts, everything is spiritual, but it could be going back to heal their inner child.”

Her work was shown under the Wunika Mukan Gallery based in Lagos, Nigeria.

Its director, Wunika Mukan, said it’s important to be a part of such art fairs.

“It’s one of my favourite fairs because of the people that work in the fair, the curation, the other galleries. It’s an honour to show with the prominent galleries that do show and every time I come back, we learn the energy in Joburg is like Lagos - it feels very warm.”