September 15, 2005
By Tammy O'Reilly
NEWTOWN may be the city's culture and entertainment hub, but the absence of an art gallery left a hole in its canvas. Until recently, that is.
Afronova, a pan-African modern and contemporary gallery, has opened up shop directly across from the Market Theatre, strengthening the art and culture thread that weaves through the area.
Started by French born Henri Vergon and local lass Belinda Zangewa, the intimate gallery is an expression of the passion and energy of the owners.
Owners Henri Vergon and Belinda Zangewa
"We were so eager to open the gallery, and to let people know what we are all about and the concept we had in mind, that we opened in July without even having a main exhibition," says a visibly enthusiastic Vergon.
"We put up a collection of different pieces from a variety of artists and, even then, the response from the public was phenomenal."
Vergon and Zangewa are experienced in the arts: Zangewa is currently on a three-month residency at the Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris. It is the prize that came with winning the Absa L'Atelier Gerard Sekoto Award last year.
Creativity undoubtedly runs through her veins as she has successfully tried her hand at fashion designing and even moonlights as a singer.
Afronova's first formal exhibition opens on Friday, 16 September and will be celebrated with all the glamour that is appropriate for the official opening of any gallery.
On show are paintings by Johannesburg artist Samson Mnisi and Ethiopian born Gera Mawi Mazgabu. While their backgrounds are poles apart, the two are united in their approach to art and their deep-seated interest in the cultural and religious traditions that they encounter.
Professionally trained as a poet and traditional healer, most, if not all of Mazgabu's works are a pictorial manifestation of his belief in traditional healing.
Forming the main image in his work is a talisman. Using intense colours, Mazgabu surrounds the eight-pointed star with a maze of intricate talismanic motifs made up of crosses, eyes and faces.
"Gera Mawi Mazgabu is a superstar in his country and in Europe, but few people have heard of him here and that is the aim this gallery - to expose South Africans to the talent that exits on the African continent," Vergon says.
He plans on doing this by always exhibiting the work of a local artist and an artist from another African country jointly. He says that while South Africans have a deep appreciation for the arts, few would deliberately venture into a gallery just to view the work of an international African artist.
Vergon unashamedly admits that he hopes news of the local artists will lure people to the gallery, where they will be exposed to the work of artists from other parts of the continent.
Taking full advantage of the cultural ambience prevalent in Newtown, Vergon is introducing what he calls a "new concept in art". Guests invited to opening exhibitions will be given a literal taste of Africa at the Gramadoelas restaurant across from the gallery.
"On opening night of each new exhibition we will be giving our guests the opportunity to go across to Gramadoelas, pay a small fee and enjoy the best in Cape Malay and African cuisine.
"They will also be able to watch a live painting by the artist whose exhibition they are attending and enjoy the sounds of the grand piano being played," Vergon explains.
He reasons that the extended evening provides an ideal networking platform as the people he will invite will not all be artists or involved in visual art.
"The arts are fragmented in Jozi," he says. "You go to a dance performance and the people who are present are mostly, if not all, involved with dance. Through that initiative we are hoping to bring all different kinds of people interested in the arts."
Turning to his motivation, Vergon says, "I'm not crazy about profits ... This gallery is an adventure for me and I am more concerned about providing a platform for artists to get the recognition and circulation that they deserve."
Entrance to Afronova is free. Gallery hours are from Tuesday to Saturday, from 1pm to 8pm.
There is safe parking at the corner of Miriam Makeba Street and Mrwebi Street.
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