The Joburg Contemporary Art Foundation (JCAF) has announced its latest exhibition, Otherscapes. The exhibition, opening to the public on 28 June 2023, features the works of four contemporary South African artists: Siemon Allen, Wim Botha, Nicholas Hlobo and Sethembile Msezane.
Otherscapes proposes surveying the scene of contemporary South Africa through four large-scale installations that can be viewed as ‘scapes’. These suggest different takes on the state of the country by exploring narratives around people and nation, identity and place, body and space.
“If it were possible to create a collective sense of belonging in South Africa, what would it look like? How would it feel?” reads the press release for Otherscapes. The four installations evoke architectural qualities, forms that emerge from the landscape, but as spectres rather than solid structures. Since they are interactive spatial environments, the viewer must walk around, in or through the installations in order to engage with them.
From the illusion of the rainbow nation to the disappointment of a failed state, the exhibition interrogates what lies in the space between utopia and failure. The works present subjective views informed by colonialism, politics, memory and spirituality.
“This exhibition asks: How can art reflect on the current South African situation, not through direct representation but through ideas that reflexively raise important questions about our democracy?”
Clive Kellner, Executive Director at JCAF
Otherscapes introduces the South African-focused programme taking place at JCAF during 2023, which will culminate in the inaugural journal launch in December.
Exhibition dates: 28 June – 4 November 2023
Exhibition viewing is by appointment only. Bookings can be made on the JCAF website.
