Date: 23 January 2023 - 12 March 2023
The Bongi Dhlomo Collection features artworks dating from the 1960s to 1990s featuring some of the most important Black South African artists of this historical period. The Collection was collected from 2017 to 2020 by artist, curator and cultural activist Bongi Dhlomo on behalf of the Javett Foundation and features a unique and educational assemblage of over 100 twentieth-century artworks. The diverse collection provides an aesthetic glimpse into the personal and collective experiences of South Africans during the tumultuous twentieth century.
Through the exhibition, Javett-UP sheds light on the continuous need to establish de-colonial dialogues that respond to the present while considering the historical and future implications of our political and social actions. In doing so, Javett-UP aims to impact historical and contemporary notions of ‘care’, inter-dependency, diversity and inclusivity.
Reimagining Our Futures – Javett-UP 2023 Programme Announced
As 2022 draws to a close, the Javett Art Centre at the University of Pretoria (Javett- UP) looks back at an impactful year, highlighting connections, intersections, and creative diversity. Throughout the year, Javett-UP welcomed over 33 0000 visitors who engaged with our various exhibitions, public programmes, educational activities, and high-end private events. The Centre saw various interventions and activities that drew artists, activists, audiences, scholars, students, learners and myriad contact zones together at the heart of art in Tshwane for critical multi-disciplinary interactions and dialogues.
The 2023 programme builds on the substantial depth achieved in 2022, and locates a sharper focus on pan-African artistic education in partnership with both local and continental platforms and forums, bridging the knowledge divide through hybrid channels.
Through this programme, Javett-UP aims to mediate the transdisciplinary nature of connecting science and art to cultivate innovative ways of responding and contributing to our collective sustainable development goals and agendas. The conversations around cultural heritage continue, with the programme designed to explore new ways of bridging indigenous knowledge with academic research to cultivate new ideas and ways of doing.
“Our 2023 programme emphasises pan-African artistic education in partnership with both local and continental platforms and forums, bridging the knowledge divide through hybrid channels. We will advocate art as a source of healing that our society is in dire need of, and we will create and promote a marketplace for the commercial and wellness value of the artistic experience and creative products to contribute to the growth of the creative economy and cultural tourism of our City of Tshwane.
We send out our humble appreciation to all of you who graced us with your presence at the Art Centre, and your valued contributions and support to our programmes and operations. We are looking forward to welcoming you again together with your friends and family in the coming year” notes Javett-UP CEO Lekgetho Makola.