STEVE BANDOMA: Joburg launches Artists of Africa

Joburg launches Artists of Africa
The Artists of Africa was launched late last week by the City of Johannesburg and the Department of Arts and Culture. VIP's and the media gathered at the Joburg Theatre for a briefing on the official 2010 FIFA World Cup Host City Johannesburg event.

Melissa Mboweni, curator, speaking at the Artists of Africa media launch
The pan African Contemporary art exhibition will be hosted at Museum Africa, Newtown, Johannesburg from 11 May to 11 July 2010. Curators, artists, writers and poets will collaborate on the project in order to showcase African talent.

The event was attended by MEC for Sports, Arts Culture and Recreation: Nelisiwe Mbatha Mtinkulu; MMC for Community Development of Johannesburg: Bafana Sithole, executive director 2010: Sibongile Mazibuko; director of Arts, Culture and Heritage: Steven Sack; COO of the LOC: Nomfanelo Magwentshu and the 2010 Joburg Soccer Legends.

Professor Pitika Ntuli opened the ceremony with a poem to capture the essence of the event.

Executive director of the 2010 office, Sibongile Mazibuko stated that the City of Johannesburg (COJ) was pleased to be partnering with The Department of Arts and Culture on this initiative. Mazibuko added that the COJ, the Department of Arts and Culture (DAC), FIFA and the Local Organising Committee (LOC) are proud of this project that will show benefits to and promote the arts industry of Africa.

Says curator Melissa Mboweni: “This exhibition will be promoted globally to people of all races, ages and cultures as it aims to educate and portray African art for what it is truly worth.”

Curator Thembinkosi Goniwe outlined the exciting curatorial concept of “Space - currencies in African contemporary art”. Thembinkosi drew attention to the relevance that the words “space” and “pace” hold for art and soccer. The defending of one's “space” and the attacking of another's is of much relevance to the game of soccer.

Space is however an important concept when related to the arts industry. This includes issues relating to the “space” that African contemporary art occupies within the global arts industry and the interaction that an artwork has with the “space” that it occupies.

The word “pace” refers to speed. Soccer players have become renowned for their ability to either use speed or talent to slow down the period of play for the benefit of the team.

“Pace” can also refer to the speed at which the African contemporary art industry is or is not changing and can bring to mind what affect we expect the 2010 FIFA World Cup to have on this industry.

In her closing, Mazibuko encouraged all art lovers, media, soccer legends, curators, artists, poets, government officials for their support in steering this project now and beyond 2010.

The sound of the iconic South African vuvuzela, gourmet food and a performance by Khanyo Maphumulo ended the occasion.

Interview

First Encounter with Steve Bandoma

Steve Bandoma types out responses to my questions whilst in residency at Cite Internationale des Arts in partnership with Mains d’Oeuvres in Paris, where he received an art award and is working on his new work there. Barely 30-years of age, he has managed to swoop up the South African art industry with his take on the conceptual realms of art. So good his work that he received an honourable mention award in the Art Buzz Book 2009 Collection (USA) and also managed to secure a fellowship with the Swiss Arts Council (2009).
Many-a-artist will tell you their first encounter with an easel or attempt at art occurred during their early childhood days. However Bandoma believes he was born an artist:
“I use this term „artist‟ very carefully though! Because there is a lot of confusion today.” He warns. “It is not because you can sing or play with Photoshop that makes you an artist. I mean you can sing and as such can be called a singer. Or you can paint and be labelled a painter, but to be an artist is something far more complex than singing and painting.”
Fair enough considering he believes his artistry is an innate ability and as the old adage goes – “each one to his own.” But in order for one to nurture and establish a natural born talent it is important to factor in how they were socialised and how living in Kinshasa shaped this artist‟s contemporary perspectives.
“My birthplace is an environment which is associated with producing African Art in traditional sense of being an artist and has not much room for the more contemporary practise or conceptual side of art. In 2003, in Kinshasa, we [Francis Mampuya, Vithois Mwilambwe, Alain Mwilambwe, Apolinaire Wantina and tree others] created a movement called “ Librisme Synergie” protesting against academic education system in Congo for not establishing new media or contemporary practice. At colleges I had a desire to develop my career towards the more contemporary side of art.”
With such limitations, a move to South Africa was an inevitable card soon to be dealt in this artist‟s life.
“It‟s was very important for me to spend times out of my country, so I moved to South Africa in 2005. And thereafter I spent almost a year looking for the right contacts in art circles – first in Johannesburg then in Cape Town. South Africa was just where I wanted to be –every hour, minute and second spent here just inspired me further towards being an artist. And I was not going to give up, even after many rejections. There was no other option for me, not even
going back home was an option. I had to get what I wanted. I reflected upon every rejection letter that came my way and was further encouraged to do my best.”
Coupled by a determinism to be recognised and established as an artist – the opportunity came towards the end of 2005 in the Cape 07/ X-Cape Festival. Since then there has been no looking back.
Today, having exhibited at numerous exhibitions, there still stands a difficulty in defining his style. Bandoma laughs candidly before pronouncing that, “some white artists here in South Africa told me not to consider myself as a conceptual artist. Maybe because I am black? I don‟t know. Maybe black artists are not supposed to do conceptual art?”
So not only is there an attempt to break into art circles but there is also a subtle urge to break stereotypical notions on what black artists can practise. Should black artists be limited to pottery or dare I say sculpture and perhaps painting. It becomes further difficult to examine what artists such as Bandoma can and cannot do largely because his vast exposure to contemporary art practise and many other cultures has led to him producing cultural diverse works that cannot be limited by racial barriers.
Besides the colour lines of art practise, Bandoma identifies three other challenges that have made his art path so much more vexing that the ordinary artist:
“It has been though working as a full time artist in another country, for years, with no family around. But then again that was my decision. At times my art has been commercial unviable and as such I have had to lean on my family for support. Another thing about living in South Africa has been my inability to articulate myself fluently in South African languages which is made worse by my not being a South African Citizen. Now imagine the implications of that.”
But I still ponder on whether or not for an artist such as Bandoma, or for any African artist, in this particular day in age where African Art is exoticised and commands a growing demand from those with a penchant for the spectacle of the other, wouldn‟t it be just easier to make traditional art. “I am a conceptual artist. Okay!? I believe that good or inspired art brings meaning in life and also allows an intellectual body to grow,” responds Bandoma as he justifies his choice to dabble in conceptual art as opposed to what he dubs the less mentally stimulating traditional art practise.
The journey is far from over. The challenges come and go. Optimism precedes a quest to be established internationally as an artist: “I see myself in Documenta, Venice Biennale, etcetera!” smile Bandoma as he releases that was the last question.

By Unathi Kondile

STEVE BANDOMA

Joburg launches Artists of Africa

The players, from aliens series, 2010

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