Eclipse, puts on show two rising contemporary artists from South Africa.
An upcoming exhibition organized by Galerie Artismagna in partnership with Undiscovered Canvas, Eclipse revolves around the perspectives of two South-African visual artists on identity, spirituality, and the feminine.
From November 17th to 27th, 2022 at Galerie Artismagna, in Paris.
Icarus, Nene Mahlangu - acrylic on canvas, 2022
Whether stepping back into precolonial times and reinterpreting or reimagining the symbolism behind the ancestral ways of life and beliefs or exploring the possibilities beyond the normative narrative that lingers in the African continent since its colonial days, Lulama Wolf Mlambo and Nene Mahlangu share much more than being two female visual artists based in Johannesburg.
Yet, they certainly differ in their peculiar ways of expressing that source which guides them within their common context through their art and lives.
Just like the eclipse, which can be either solar or lunar, the two women invite the spectator into their respective universes to take a look at a common phenomenon in a different light.
Come, look, over here ! Nene Mahlangu - acrylic on canvas, 2022
Redefining the lines of freedom and identity as women
For this new opus, Nene Mahlangu — who has recently exhibited her works in Birmingham, UK, Lagos, Nigeria, and Ibiza, Spain — explores the Seven Deadly Sins, probing into who we are when no one is looking.
Her acrylic paintings are vibrant, sensual in their curved lines and subjects. The figures’ gaze is veiled and without it, shapes and composition engage in a purposefully frivolous play of appearances.
Lush and luxuriant, the settings of her works are an invitation to daydream and to allow one to construct worlds that resonates with the inner self one is experiencing, rather than shape one’s reality out of tainted narratives.
Besides her work as an artist, Nene Mahlangu takes on the role of curator of Design Indaba Emerging Creative in 2023 and acts as the Chief Curator of the American Arts Chamber.
Determined to inspire and empower women through her passion for art, she most certainly is one of the young contemporary African artists to follow.
Lulama Wolf Mlambo’s inspiration finds its source in the spirit of the ancestral ways, unspoiled by the colonial past. Her works are expressionist and abstract, granting the possibility for a meaning to occur spontaneously and to hold a variety of interpretations.
Uzithulele | (She is quite), Lulama Wolf
The young artist brings an offering of peace, joy, and simplicity by reinventing an environment where this heritage is actualized.
Through the investigation of themes that are dear to her, such as space, spirituality, and vernacular crafts, a signified world unfolds, carrying its own message.
Sawa ngamadolo (We came to our knees), Lulama Wolf
Using the tools proper to the language, the young woman paints a world of earth tones with deep pigment technique, smearing, and scraping among others, which were all used in vernacular architecture.
Inyanthi ibuzwa kwabaphambili | (The truth is found by those that experienced it), Lulama Wolf
The patterns are reminiscent of traditional textiles, mostly created by women, and underline the artist’s exploration of history and proof of life in an environment where there is little reference to black spirituality.
Eclipse is a rare occasion to discover visually contrasting world interpretations through the eyes of two contemporary artists who share their womanness and thirst for freedom. The exhibition will take place from November 17th to 27th, 2022 at Galerie Artismagna, in Paris.