"My Digital Plague" at the AVA Gallery

Opening of three solo exhibitions at the AVA Gallery

AFRICA WITHOUT BORDERSAdolf Tega

Opening address by Lionel Davis
MY DIGITAL PLAGUEMaurice Mbikayi

REMERGEKitty Dorje

Opening at 18:00 on Monday, 30 July 2012Exhibition closes at 13:00 on Friday, 24 August 2012

Maurice Mbikayi writes of his installation:

I’m dragged into a virtual world of codes daily. There in that valley, an irresistible fascination and a whispering concern, transforms me into something alien - battling my digital demons. Every day is inevitably tiring; I click, type and enter this world. Suddenly I’m surrounded by an overwhelming invasion of aliens. I backspace; try to shift, but their mobility and fashionable grip on me Ctrl my moves. Then I pause - break, try to upgrade my hits: 1, 2, 3. But the aliens inject me with their multiple insidious diseases. I slowly contract some insane after effect experiences: Speed dial moves, focus on subjects, zoom in, zoom out, click on this , click on that - Bluetooth into the brain, just couldn’t get my senses. I twitted, I tagged; it became worse. Before I realized it, I was a half alien, locked up in the “Silly Valley”, googling my dreams to be one of them, with my Negro skin suffering the hypodermic injections of their insatiable grid.

Association for Visual Arts Gallery
35 Church Street, Cape Town, South Africa
Gallery hours: Weekdays 10h00 to 17h00,
Saturdays 10h00 to 13h00
Closed Sundays and public holidays
Phone: +27-21 424-7436,
Fax: +27-21 423-2637,
avaart@iafrica.com
http://www.ava.co.za/

Africa South Art Initiative (ASAI)

"What does Africa" mean for South African art and artists today?" for 31 July 2012,
15h00-17h00, at Michaelis, chaired by Rael Salley for The names we give, as
part of launch of new ASAI website.

Panelists to speak for 8-10 mins each, followed by discussion: Garth Erasmus, Maurice Mbikayi, Colin Richards,Lize van Robbroeck.


-Lunchtime lecture earlier at 13h00, website launch: Mario Pissarra.

POP IN, at Worldart Gallery, 54 Church Street, Cape Town cbd,Thursday 5 July, 6 – 8pm

This will be the first of a series of pop-up curated exhibitions by Rodriguez that will each feature different elements of South African art and design as seen through the eyes of an experienced visual practitioner who isn't home grown. Featured artists include Edoardo Villa, Maurice Mbikayi, David Brown and Paul Stein.

A bronze Edoardo Villa alongside a Maurice Mbikayi made of plastic keyboard keys is an unusual sight. And it is exactly this sense of adventure that can be expected from POP IN a South African sculptural exhibition curated by Alberto Rodriguez.
"Local people tend to get used to their art and design – to the point where they forget to pause and actually see it. They also often experience it in a specific context or frame of reference and as a foreigner my contribution is to point out different ways of looking at the familiar and to create a new and fresh experience. I find this very exciting!" says Rodriguez.
Alberto Rodriguez, who was born in the Canary Islands, has in recent years worked on projects with Alberta Ferretti, Gucci and Robert Sherwood Interior Design.

Work at IAAB

Traces from iaab, Basel Switzerland (Prohelvetia Fellowship)

Traces from iaab
Duration 25.2. - 04/04/2012

Traces from iaab
The artists' studios are the iaab exchange in their work with a guest dock

"Iaab traces from" under the title of the art space opens dock: twice in its window and loads the guest artists sharing studio of iaab / Christoph Merian Foundation to one, their work in a new context - in a foreign country, that our intimate Basel for the Artists from around the world is flat - issue. In this show will present Miatta Kawinzi, Maurice Mbikayi and Janne Nabb / Mary Teeri their resulting works in Basel.

Miatta Kawinzi, Janne and Mary Nabb Teeri, Maurice Mbikay

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