Always The Sun – a solo exhibition by Zakes Mda

The centrepiece of Prof. Zakes Mda‘s solo exhibition Always The Sun at William Humphreys Art Gallery is a celebration of his return to South Africa, following a long and illustrious academic career in the United States.

The timing of this exhibition is made even more perfect by the fact that he celebrated his birthday on October 6th. Being African-American and South African-born, Mda has stated that his work is mostly inter-textual, utilizing mixed media such as cloth, acrylic, oil on canvas, collage, and three-dimensional objects. Every artwork aims to represent conflicts relating to work, relationships, and sexuality. A few of his compositions also honour performance, particularly dance and music, as a means of promoting social healing.

Mda’s exploration of mixed media, including paintings on canvas with found objects and fabric materials, is intriguing. It’s not uncommon for artists to experiment with different forms of artistic expression beyond their primary medium. This type of mixed-media art can allow for a rich and multidimensional visual experience, incorporating various textures, colours, and materials to convey the artist’s unique perspective and storytelling. His style is a synthesis of European expressionist, Brasque-inspired Cubism, lipatrone, and Basotho. A few of his paintings combine elements of fiction and storytelling; others are roughly interpreted or based on scenes from his novels. The rendition or interpretation of characters in his novels finds expression in his some of his paintings.

The intricate fusion of themes and concepts in Mda’s art serves as a clinical illustration of the socioeconomic realities of modern life. One of his paintings, ‘Man in Green Blanket’, features the well-known figure from the Marikana Massacre of 2012, who occasionally pops up in his art. One is reminded of Toloki (the Professional Mourner), a fictional character who features in three of Mda’s novels: Ways of Dying, Cion and Wayfarer’s Hymns. Mda’s work reminds us of the hard facts about the Marikana atrocity, and many others, that we have chosen to ignore. The idea that art may be a tool to shock the comfortable and comfort the disturbed is embodied in much of Mda’s work. This is perfectly described by the title of this exhibition, which is transparency where things as are done in the open, in the sun so to speak.

Mda’s use of impasto texture and his choice to depict figures of South African historical and social importance in his paintings are notable aspects of his artistic practice. Impasto is a painting technique that involves applying paint thickly to create a textured and three-dimensional surface. This technique can add depth and a tactile quality to the artwork, making it visually engaging and emotionally resonant. By featuring figures of South African historical and social importance in his work, Zakes Mda likely contributes to the broader conversation about the country’s complex history, struggles, and cultural heritage. Honouring jazz musicians and acknowledging events like the Marikana Massacre through art can serve as a powerful means of memorializing these individuals and moments, shedding light on their significance, and fostering a deeper understanding of South African history and society. Mda’s artistic approach is to be a fusion of artistic technique and social commentary, which can be a compelling way to engage viewers and convey meaningful narratives. His choice to blend impasto texture with these thematic elements can add a tactile and emotional quality to his work, allowing the viewer to connect with the subjects on a more visceral level.

The Kimberley community and the Northern Cape as a whole will gain from his stay at the museum, which aligns with his artist-in-residence program at WHAG. WHAG will announce the dates for some of the events that have been planned to make the most of Prof Mda’s presence in the city. A public lecture by Professor Mda on Father Frans Claerhout (15 February 1919 – 4 July 2006), a Belgian painter who lived most of his adult life in South Africa, is one of the events that will take place. Other events include a master class on creative writing called Write What You Don’t Know and a panel discussion on the relationship between art and creative writing. Claerhout gave Mda a book in May 2000, and on the flyleaf he painted a golden bird. Later on, he dedicated his fifth book, The Madonna of Excelsior, to Father Frans Claerhout’s painting of the golden bird.

Always The Sun exhibition is curated by WHAG’s Chief Curator Chepape Makgato. The opening reception will be on the 23 of November 2023 and the exhibition will run until 23 January 2024.

About Professor Zakes Mda

Professor Zakes Mda is a multi-disciplinary and cross-generic artist: novelist, playwright/librettist, screenwriter for film and television, animation director, music composer and painter based in Athens Ohio, USA. His novels have been translated into more than 20 languages, including Catalan, Korean, Serbian, German, Italian, Turkish, Estonian, Dutch, Norwegian, Swedish, and French, and have won many awards. He has held solo and joint art exhibitions in many European, African, and North American countries, and his paintings are in private collections in the USA, South Africa, Switzerland, and Spain. He was awarded an honorary doctorate for his art by Dartmouth College.

About WHAG

William Humphreys Art Gallery, in the centre Kimberley, Northern Cape, is one of the three national art museums under the Department ff Sport, Arts and Culture and is considered one of the great public museums in the country due to its unique collection of artefacts spanning over seven decades. WHAG takes pride in acquiring world class artworks and putting up cutting edge exhibitions in the country whilst making the museum accessible to the general public.

FEATURE ARTWORK: Famo Music 3 by Zakes Mda.