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FROM KIZO TO KERALA: SA ARTISTS PAY TRIBUTE TO GANDHI

Back in South Africa following a New Delhi visit they describe as “exhilarating”, Kizo Art Gallery Directors Craig Mark and Natalie Bradfield are already in the throes of preparing for the local launch of the Satyagraha Indo- South African Art Collaboration, together with Nella de Waal, Lecturer in Arts and Culture at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, and also SA Coordinator of the event.

The three have just returned home after proudly representing the creative merit of the Rainbow Nation at the Indian launch of the intercontinental exhibition, at the Travancore Gallery in New Delhi on 1st September. Kizo’s local exhibition will be open to the public from 2nd October, Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday, and will run until 15th October. The entire project commemorates the centenary of Gandhi’s peaceful protest, or Satyagraha, launched in Transvaal (Gauteng) on 11th September 1906.

At an opening ceremony inaugurated by the President of India Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, the creations of twenty South African artists held pride of place alongside the works of 46 of their Indian counterparts. High profile guests included the Chief Minister of Delhi, Ms Sheila Dikshit; Vice Chairman of Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti (Gandhi Memorial Institutions), Ms Tara Gandhi Bhattacharya; South African High Commissioner in India, Sehloho Francis Moloi; Kerala Minister of Culture, Sri MA Baby, Tushar Arun Gandhi, great-grandson of Gandhi as well as other members of Gandhi’s family in Delhi.

Kizo Gallery Director, Craig Mark, hopes that a similarly strong representation of senior officials and government will be in attendance at the launch of the South African exhibit at Kizo Art Gallery on 1st October. Speaking about the high-level support in India, he said: “President Kalam even donated one of the paintings from his private collection to be exhibited as part of the exhibition. The S.A. High Commissioner confirmed the relevance of Satyagraha in terms of South Africa and mentioned how each of our country’s Nobel Peace prize winners had followed the principles of Satyagraha. He brought attention to the relevance of the spinning wheel in the ANC's flag and its association with Gandhi.”

Nella de Waal adds: “The international delegates were extremely impressed with the South African works on display. In fact, the President of India was so captivated by the work of artists like Philip Briel and Andrew Verster, that he even made special mention of them. His visit to the gallery lasted well over an hour. Everybody there received us with such great joy and warmth.”

The Satyagraha Indo-South African Art Collaboration is the brainchild of V K Cherian, India Coordinator of this event, and also director of Afrikhadi-India, an NGO with representation in India and South Africa. It will see the two nations exhibit a mammoth collection of visual representations pertaining to and inspired by the principles of the truth (Satya) which implies love and firmness (agraha) initiated by Gandhi at the Empire Theatre in Johannesburg a century ago. Members of the public will also be invited to contribute personal photographs of Gandhi and the Satyagraha.

The South African artists include Andrew Verster, Anthony Wakaba Mutheki, Simmi Dullay, Ignatius Marx, Sam Nhlengethwa, Clint Singh, Lene’ Pienaar, Sfiso Ka Mkame, Paul Lawrenson, Lindelani Ngwenya, Vanessa Berlein; Rani Pillay, Philip Briel, Hildegard, Gabisile Nkosi, Langa Magwa, Marklyn Govender and Vulindlela Nyoni. The Indian artists include reputed names like KG Subrahmanyam, Gulam Mohammed Sheikh, Sudir Patwardhan, Nilima Sheikh, Hakku Shah and Mahendra Pandya, as well as younger Indian artists for whom the concept of Satyagraha has been approached from an academic rather than experiential perspective.

For South Africa, a country still healing from its own oppression, the principle of Satyagraha has much to offer, and the exhibition will no doubt provide art lovers in both countries with a renewed understanding of the movement, not only as a philosophical or spiritual act, but as a relevant, 21st century alternative to violent struggle and violation of personal freedom.

PLEA - for visual material of Gandhi

In regard to the above, Durban’s Kizo Art Gallery is launching an impassioned appeal to members of the community to delve into their personal archives in search of visual material depicting Gandhi and his famous Satyagraha movement, for inclusion in the Satyagraha Indo South African Arts Collaboration. The exhibition will be held at the Kizo Art Gallery in Gateway from 2nd to 15th October. It commemorates the 100th year since Gandhi spurred the politically oppressed Indian community of South Africa to peaceful action against the British on 11th September 1906 – an exercise still widely recognised as one of the greatest leadership and revolutionary tactics of all time.

Contributions will need to be submitted to the gallery by 20th September, and will form part of a spectacular showcase which includes photographs, images, calendars, cartoons, interpretations and critiques pertaining to the Satyagraha and the Satyagrahi, as well as the artistic contributions of 20 South African and 46 Indian artists. All material will be entrusted to Kizo for curating and documenting, and will be returned after the exhibition.

The requested visual material will be exhibited in the Pathways section of the exhibition, which is intended to give viewers an insight into the concept of and the history behind the Satyagraha movement. The Footprints section will feature the 66 artists’ interpretations of Satyagraha’s relevance in modern society.

The body of work to be showcased is inspired, moving, unique and extremely exciting, and Kizo sincerely hopes that the community will assist in honouring the man who changed the political landscape of our nation 100 years ago. By doing so, these individuals will participate in the largest such collaboration in history between India and South Africa, where Gandhi lived and worked.

For more information and to pledge assistance, contact Malize at the Kizo Art Gallery on 031 566 4324 for more information, or visit www.kizo.co.za.

For further information on the exhibition:

Louise Hunt on +27 (0) 31 539 2444 or +27 (0) 83 708 6078 or hunt_pr@telkomsa.net.

Jozi Donjeany on +27 (0) 31 539 2444 or +27 (0) 76 153 8286 or hunt_pr3@telkomsa.net.

Or visit www.kizo.co.za and www.afrikhadiindia.org. Public enquiries: 031-566 4324

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