The Creative Exchange, opening in JHB

EXHIBITION OPENING
06 SEPTEMBER 2011 AT 6:30PM
The exhibition will run until 23 September 2011

On 6th September 2011, The Creative Exchange launches a sustainable initiative in support of Africa’s emerging artistic talent. The programme brings together business partners Hollard, Artinsure and the Creative Block with not-for profit company Business and Arts South Africa (BASA) in creating exhibition and mentorship opportunities to the continent’s rising stars.

This year’s nominees are Maurice Mbikayi from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Nomthunzi Mashalaba from South Africa. Come and experience their works on display in the century-old Sir Herbert Baker designed Villa Arcadia. Open to the public, the launch on 6th September at 18h30 will offer guests the opportunity to view these artworks for the first time and speak to the artists about their work. To view the exhibition hereafter, please contact to book a guided tour.

Not an arts sponsorship, but an exchange, The Creative Exchange is designed to offer the selected artists an opportunity to significantly benefit their work and career development by providing the necessary financial support. In exchange, the Hollard Collection is offered first option to acquire artworks from each of the artists’ exhibitions to the value of the investment. The artists have also created special Creative Block artworks that will be available for sale to the public.

INFORMATION & BOOKINGS
Lucy Rayner | Art Director
Jeanetta Blignaut Art Consultancy
lucy@jeanettablignaut.com | +27 21 461 2679

Exhibition opening at the Villa Acardia, Hollard Campus ,Johannesburg

Maurice Mbikayi at the Villa Acardia, Hollard Campus ,Johannesburg

EXHIBITION OPENING
06 SEPTEMBER 2011 AT 6:30PM
The exhibition will run until 23 September 2011

On 6th September 2011, The Creative Exchange launches a sustainable initiative in support of Africa’s emerging artistic talent. The programme brings together business partners Hollard, Artinsure and the Creative Block with not-for profit company Business and Arts South Africa (BASA) in creating exhibition and mentorship opportunities to the continent’s rising stars.

This year’s nominees are Maurice Mbikayi from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Nomthunzi Mashalaba from South Africa. Come and experience their works on display in the century-old Sir Herbert Baker designed Villa Arcadia. Open to the public, the launch on 6th September at 18h30 will offer guests the opportunity to view these artworks for the first time and speak to the artists about their work. To view the exhibition hereafter, please contact to book a guided tour.

Not an arts sponsorship, but an exchange, The Creative Exchange is designed to offer the selected artists an opportunity to significantly benefit their work and career development by providing the necessary financial support. In exchange, the Hollard Collection is offered first option to acquire artworks from each of the artists’ exhibitions to the value of the investment. The artists have also created special Creative Block artworks that will be available for sale to the public.

INFORMATION & BOOKINGS
Lucy Rayner | Art Director
Jeanetta Blignaut Art Consultancy
lucy@jeanettablignaut.com | +27 21 461 2679


Both Hollard and Artinsure are authorised financial services providers

Echoes at the "Centre Culturel Francais" of Maputo (CCFM)(

Alliance Francaise of Swaziland in collaboration with Bush Fire: Maurice Mbikayi at the National Museum from 26th to 31st May(Traveling exhibition)

The Exhibition "Notre Peau" continues untill the 25th May 2011. @ CAS Galery/UCT Upper Campus

Video of VOICES at Spier Contemporary in 2010

"Voices", Spier Contemporary, 2010 from Maurice Mbikayi on Vimeo.

Exhibition at Alliance Française of Durban

Part of ECHOES Series, a traveling show proposed by the Alliance Francaise of South Africa. Exhibited first at the Alliance Cape Town on 10th August 2010.

Exhibition: Maurice Mbikayi at The Centre for African Studies /UCT

"Notre Peau" under the sponsorship and support of Hollard Creative Programme Exchange ant the Jeanetta Blignaut Art Consultancy is now at The Centre for African Studies at UCT
-Harry Oppenheimer Building
Engineering Mall/Upper Campus,University of Cape Town/UCT
Opening on Wednesday 23 March 2011 at 18h00

Address by Andile Mngxitama(Editor of New Frank Talk)

Acknowledgements:

-The Centre for African Studies,UCT
-Jeanetta Blignaut Art Consultancy
-Hollard Creative Exchange Programme
-Association For Visual Arts/AVA Gallery
- Siona O'connell
-Lilian Jacobs
Natasha Himmelman
-Oddveig Nicole Sarmiento
-Haley McEwen

At the Alliance Francaise of Pretoria

Echoes now at the Alliance Francaise of Pretoria, selected as travelling exhibition from Alliance Cape Town.
From 14th March at 19:15 to 28th

Exhibition at Alliance Francaise of Port Elisabeth

The Hollard Creative Exchange Programme in collaboration with the AVA Gallery

This project was sponsored by Hollard Corporate through “The Hollard creative exchange programme”, facilitated by “The Spier art academy and Jeanetta Blignaut Art consultancy”. it was a year exchange programme with work in studio and research, between Cape Town and Johannesburg which ends up in a touring solo exhibitions, called “Notre Peau” (a metaphor for African response to the New technology). The first exhibition in Cape Town was realized at the Association for Visual Art, the AVA Gallery (opening on 24th January 2011). The second part will be at Villa Arcadia, the Hollard Campus in JHB (Date to be confirmed). The project looked at African countries as reliance to mining and technological revolution but also to at the vulnerability to low wage labour.

Title of the project: “Notre Peau”

Content:

This body of work is a personal exploration of the technical revolution that has greatly impacted on many African countries. In my country, the Democratic Republic Congo (DRC), the reliance on mining for natural resources for instance, has made its people vulnerable to low-wage labour abuse, as well as a range of issues beyond their control, dictated by international economic markets. This has had a devastating impact on the country’s cultural and environmental diversity.
In asking myself how as a visual artist I could portray my fascinations, hopes and apprehensions on the subject, I began to obsessively collect found electronic remnants of this rapidly developing technology. The resultant mixed media drawings and sculptures ask questions such as to whom such technological resources are made available and at what or whose expense? What are the consequences impacting on our people and environment?
The title of my exhibition “Notre Peau” (translated as “Our Skin”) is a metaphor used to illustrate a distinctly African response to the various impacts of technology on the continent. While exposed to the elements and easily injured, skin can also be described as extraordinarily resilient. It is able to regenerate and repair itself, and change in colour or shade to adapt to its environment.
While working with found objects, I feel exposed to the danger of its effects and I tend to sympathize with people who are on the daily basis systematically exposed to toxic metals in the air.
According to sources, the total e-waste generated is dramatically increasing. This is projected to double in 2012. In 2006, the quantity of e-waste generated by some big cities worldwide had already risen. Most e-waste ends up in poor and unorganized sectors, where labourers with no training and protection dismantle products, often with their bare hands, with the aim of reselling the components.
In the discourse of technologic revolution, and the way the contemporary world has being globalised; it will be foolish to ignore a strong contribution of technology in our daily lives. To reject such endeavours would be unreasonable and go against global businesses and preclude the flow of ideas and knowledge. Thus the dilemma seems a vicious circle and only getting worse.

The AVA in partnership with Spier

Solo Exhibition at the AVA Gallery at 6 pm
Monday, 24 January 2011
Exhibition Closes on Friday, 18 February 2011 at 1 pm


MAURICE MBIKAYI
"NOTRE PEAU"
The show was sponsored by Hollard corporate it is a"Hollard Creative Exhange Programme", the show is a tour exhibition which will go to Villa Arcadia at the Hollard Campus, Parktown, Johannesburg (date to be confirmed)

At AVA Gallery,Maurice Mbikayi employs the Long gallery with "Notre Peau" (Our Skin). Mbikayi investigates the effects of technology on identity and history whilst unpacking the various ways in which the technological revolution has both positively and negatively impacted on Africa. Evocative portraits are created out of discarded technology; computer matter becomes skin as cell phones become hearts.
Association for Visual Arts Gallery
35 Church Street, Cape Town, South Africa
Gallery hours: Weekdays 10h00 to 17h00,
Saturdays 10h00 to 13h00
Phone: +27-21 424-7436,
Fax: +27-21 423-2637,
avaart@iafrica.com
www.ava.co.za



Wine at the opening is kindly sponsored by Spier www.spierwines.co.za