Thero Makepe's 'We Didn’t Choose to Be Born Here' at Javett-UP
Thero Makepe, an artist from Botswana, showcases his work titled 'We Didn’t Choose to Be Born Here: Inherited Frequencies' at the Javett Art Centre, located at the University of Pretoria, until February 13, 2027. This exhibition delves into themes of memory, migration, and resistance, utilizing staged portraits, archival photographs, and documentary imagery. It highlights the connected histories of Botswana and South Africa, reflecting on the legacy of the anti-apartheid movement through Makepe's lineage, particularly his grandfather Hippolytus Mothopeng's escape from apartheid South Africa to Botswana and the influence of PAC leader Zephaniah Mothopeng. Family members engage in remembrance, blending music, activism, and photography to explore how images encapsulate grief, tenderness, and resilience, questioning the meaning of inherited freedom and its ongoing complexities.
Key facts
- Thero Makepe is a Botswana-born artist.
- Exhibition title: 'We Didn’t Choose to Be Born Here: Inherited Frequencies'.
- Venue: Javett Art Centre at the University of Pretoria.
- Exhibition runs until February 13, 2027.
- Features staged portraiture, archival imagery, and documentary photography.
- Centers on intertwined histories of Botswana and South Africa.
- References Makepe's grandfather Hippolytus Mothopeng and PAC leader Zephaniah Mothopeng.
- Family members collaborate as part of the artistic process.
Entities
Artists
- Thero Makepe
Institutions
- Javett Art Centre at the University of Pretoria
- Javett-UP
Locations
- Botswana
- South Africa
- Pretoria
- University of Pretoria