Swazi Observer

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ESWATINI ARTISTS SUCCESSFUL

By Nokwanda Sibandze | 2019-09-21

FNB Art Joburg plays a pivotal role in supporting the contemporary art landscape in Africa. The fair provides space for leading artists, galleries, collectors, writers, thinkers and art lovers to congregate.

Nicole Siegenthaler, the FNB Art Joburg Manager said, “One of my weekend highlights was being able to host the Yebo Contemporary’s artists at the fair… 13 in total! In my 8+ years in the art world, working in fairs in NYC, Brussels and now Joburg, I’ve never had a gallery seek strategic partnership and manage logistics so that so many of their artists could attend the main event. Bravo to the Yebo Contemporary team, this is truly a special gallery”

FNB Art Joburg is a prestigious annual event for the top art galleries of Africa and this year, Eswatini’s Yebo Contemporary Art Gallery was invited to participate. FNB Art Joburg was taken over by Mandla Sibeko this year, he rebranded the event, selection was by invitation only. A new addition to the fair was the Gallery Lab, a 600sqm pavillion where galleries and art spaces from across Africa staged their works. The new platform, was curated by Nicole Siegenthaler (Fair Manager, FNB Art Joburg) and Banele Khoza (Founding Director, BKhz). Exhibitors in the main section included all South African top galleries: blank projects, Everard Read, Gallery MOMO, Goodman Gallery, Kalashnikovv, SMAC Gallery, SMITH, Stevenson and WHATIFTHEWORLD. The fair was at Sandton Convention Centre last weekend.

Aleta Armstrong, Director of Yebo Gallery said, “ It has been a great honour for our small gallery to be invited to participate at this year’s event. The artists who we selected to participate were Khulekani Msweli, Mbongeni Dlamini, Mesuli Mamba, Tony Marshak, Phindile Mamba, Thabo Lukhele and Sakhile Gumbi. Khulekani and I curated the exhibition together and his installation ‘Ngihle Ngikhohlwa Ngihle Ngikhumbula’- Sometimes I Forget Sometimes I Remember was the focal point of our stand. This event would not have been possible without the generous support of FNB Eswatini, DHL Eswatini and Eswatini Tourism Authority and all of us artists thank them for their support of the growth of the local creative economy.

“We were inspired by the amazing work that was on display and meeting well known artists like Zanele Muholi and Nelson Makama was wonderful! We had thousands of visitors to our stand and received such positive feedback from everybody who were extremely impressed with the work by Eswatini artists. It was a proud moment for Yebo, after 10 years of hard work to receive the international recognition that our artists so richly deserve. There were sales and following the fair a huge growth in inquiries from international art collectors. We are still digesting it all and are sure there will many more exciting updates we will share in the following months.Now I will start working on our forthcoming exhibition Eswatini NOW#5 which will open on November the 2nd.

“The FNB Art Joburg was an amazing experience for me, as an exhibiting artist, curator and a spectator. Seeing work that is aesthetically and intellectually stimulating offered great pleasure and inspiration. The important take away, from it all, is that Eswatini has outstanding artists producing contemporary art and we will need greater support as we progress,” Khulekani Msweli

Thirteen Eswatini artists were also sponsored by FNB Eswatini and Tourism Authority to spend the weekend in Joburg and attend the art fair! Mesuli Mamba said “ The ideas, approaches and techniques by all the artists exhibiting overwhelmd me. It was an amazing experience!” Seni Mdluli added “ I loved their freedom of expression! Came home very inspired. Thank you for the experience” Fela Dlamini : Thank you for this opportunity, was amazing to be together with all the artists and we thank the sponsors for an inspiring trip.”

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