Lazi Mathebula Presents: 'The Ouens' for Joburg Art Fair 2024
The Joburg Art Fair 2024 is a highly anticipated cultural event that celebrates the vibrant arts scene in Johannesburg, South Africa, and across the African continent. Whether it’s galleries, events, panel-discussions or after-parties, one thing Art Fair always does is showcase a unique blend of traditional African influences with modern art movements, exploring and celebrating identity, heritage, and social issues. Its significance lies in promoting African creativity on the global stage, fostering cultural exchange, and reinforcing Johannesburg’s status as a hub for innovative artistic expression. One such artist who represents everything Art Fair aims to achieve is Lazi Mathebula.
Last week Thursday at our Joburg store, we hosted an intimate event with Lazi Mathebula, our good friend and incredible artist, who will be showing his screen-print collection ‘The Ouens’ at the 2024 Joburg Art Fair. Spotlighting amazing creatives has always been a key part of our Shelflife community, and so we were honoured to get involved in the build-up to Art Fair through Lazi’s pre-show screening.
The night showcased Lazi’s artistic process through a “behind-the-scenes” short-film, which took us through the creation of his upcoming collection. It was truly a celebration of both Lazi and community, using his work as a spring-board for engaging discourse and meaningful connection. Alongside this, there was a small zine for sale, which really encapsulated the essence of ‘The Ouens.’ The screening was complete with some snacks and drinks by Jack Black.
About Lazi Mathebula:
Lazi Mathebula (also fondly referred to as “Greiispaces”) is an Award winning illustrator, independent designer and founder of streetwear brand called ‘Beautiful Boys.’ Lazi’s work reflects a recognisable fixation on finer detailing, the intricacies of African stories and a tasteful use of luminous colour and texture to create long-lasting visual impressions. “I believe that real creativity involves transforming the ordinary and in a sense, turning realism on its head.”- Lazi Mathebula
'The Ouens'
"The Ouens is a body of work that represents a time in a regime, an Apartheid regime. The work comes after my 4th solo show, called Bekumnandi Sisonke, which was a celebration of Sophiatown.
As I was doing research for Bekumnandi Sisonke, there was a lot that I felt still needed to be covered, so when I was due for my next body of work I decided to start there.
I started exploring different routes, still within the context of South African history. I looked at the B-Side, not the obvious political approach. The other side, the side that also added value to the political landscape but was not documented as much.
The works sees me exploring three different stories - the story of an activist, an artist and a very troubled character. They exist in three different periods, but still within the Apartheid regime."
The Activist:
"After the “Bekumnandi Sisonke” exhibition I felt it was only right to highlight Alexandra Township, starting with the connection between Sophiatown and Alex. Alex one of the only townships in proximity to Sophiatown that shared similarities, but the only difference was mostly black people lived there, with the exception of a few Chinese, Indian and Coloured people who mostly ran businesses in Alex.
I wanted to reflect on a time when Alexandra almost got demolished and how the resistance from the community made Alexandra get sidelined by the Apartheid Government for development. This came at a cost for those who fought to save their homes. This resistance gave birth to the campaign “Save Alexandra” which was led by the then Dutch Reformed Church Reverend, Sam Buti."
The Artist:
"Music is a thread that weaves through my ideas in every context. Jazz in particular has been in my life since I was born the world, it always has been the backdrop of my life. It was also the backdrop of a time in the regime. When King Kong, an all African Jazz Opera, hit theatres in 1959 it had such an impact that it attracted a multi-racial audience. Todd Matshikiza composed and wrote some of the most prolific songs for the musical so I wanted to highlight him. He is one the people that helped launch the international careers of the likes of Miriam Makeba, Caiphus Semenya, Letta Mbuli, Hugh Masekela and more. I felt the need to celebrate him as someone who is not celebrated enough in the South African music landscape."
The Troubled Man:
"When I watched Mapantsula for the first time, I couldn't believe the level of accuracy that was depicted in it and even though I watched a bad quality version of the movie, it had such an incredible impact on me. I couldn’t shake it, so I went on a quest, a quest to celebrate that story in a different format. For obvious reasons, I chose to zero in on the character ‘Panic.'"
"Journeying through the material that inspired the work and making the pieces made me realise that growing up in Alex meant that I had many people in my life who were like the artist, activist and troubled character of Panic. It also made me realise that I carry each of them in me."
Check-out Lazi's collection at FNB Joburg Art Fair 2024 on the 6th of Septmber until the 8th of September at Sandton Convention Centre.
Click HERE for more information!
Photos by @theexpressionist & @vezfullstop