Phumzile Khanyile's Dream Drawings Explore Dual Worlds at Cape Town Exhibition
The exhibition 'Sabela Uyabizwa' by Phumzile Khanyile is on display at Blank Projects in Cape Town from 31 August to 14 October. This collection features digital drawings inspired by dreams, created between 2021 and 2022, representing a departure from her earlier self-portraits in 'Plastic Crowns' from 2016. The works delve into contrasts such as dream versus reality and privilege versus exclusion, framed within cultural contexts. The opening artwork, 'Ukubona I,' depicts a childlike figure with a television aerial, highlighting economic disparities in South Africa. Additional pieces include blurred images that draw from the region's rich cultural history of dreams. The isiXhosa title means 'Respond, You Are Being Called,' showcasing Khanyile's connection to visionary traditions and societal issues.
Key facts
- Phumzile Khanyile's exhibition 'Sabela Uyabizwa' runs from 31 August to 14 October at Blank Projects in Cape Town
- The exhibition features dream-inspired drawings created between 2021 and 2022
- Khanyile describes this body of work as a 'tower moment' marking a dramatic shift in her practice
- The artist moved from writing dreams to drawing them digitally, sometimes superimposing them on photo negatives
- Works reference southern African visionary traditions including San rock paintings and Nongqawuse's prophecies
- The exhibition explores overlapping worlds: dream/reality, privilege/exclusion, Western/African cultures
- Objects like television aerials symbolize economic divisions in South African society
- Female figures in the works serve as guides or witnesses to visionary experiences
Entities
Artists
- Phumzile Khanyile
- Tracey Emin
- Nongqawuse
- Olive Schreiner
Institutions
- Blank Projects
- ArtReview
Locations
- Cape Town
- South Africa