YOUNG BIRDS LEARN TO SING IN SPRINGTIME

18 September – 21 October 2023

Spring is all about new beginnings and transformations; it’s a season that is marked by nicer weather, birds chirping, flowers blooming and baby birds learn to sing. Caterpillars breaks out of their cocoon and become butterflies.

This online viewing room features the works of Amogelang Maepa, DuduBloom More, Chrisél Attewell, Hazel Mphande, Natalie de Morney and Odette Graskie.

"Many animals ‘sleep’ all through winter, which is called hibernation and it’s something what artists and yourself might experience on long winter days when it feels too grey and cold to move. It’s not that we want to sleep the whole winter but there’s a kind of a dormant state, a period of remaining indoors, the energy expenditure drops and it gives us time to contemplate. Reading a book, listen to music and then drifting off and having one delicious day dream after another. The sweetness of doing nothing.

Artists hibernate similarly to animals, spending periods of time inactive, to allow new ideas to come forward, so that their next work can formulate. This down time is something that most artists indulge in, sometimes entering an almost forced waiting period, which often signals the beginning of new work. Or as one artist formulated it: ‘I want to get bored’, after a very productive period in her life. This in-between period, signals usually the starting point of a new cycle of creation that only the artist is able to manage." - Els van Mourik, senior curator at Berman Contemporary

1-54 CONTEMPORARY AFRICAN ART FAIR | LONDON | 2023

SAVE THE DATE: 12 - 15 October 2023

With just less than a week to go, Berman Contemporary is excited to present the works of four female artists: Athenkosi Kwinana, DuduBloom More, Cow Mash, and Hazel Mphande at this year's 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair held at Somerset House, London.

This year's fair is set to be the largest to date, featuring 62 international exhibitors from more than 30 countries. Visitors can look forward to experiencing a diverse range of artistic expressions, with over 170 artists being represented.

We are truly excited about this year’s fair and look forward to seeing you there. Berman Contemporary’s booth will be located on the South Wing of Somerset House, at Booth S20, located on the second floor.

To those who will be unable to attend the physical fair, we are pleased to let you know that all the works by the artists presented at the fair will be on ARTSY from the 12 – 29 October 2023. We encourage you to follow the artists on ARTSY to receive notifications when new works become available for 1-54 London.

ART COLOGNE | 2023

SAVE THE DATE: 16 to 19 November 2023

Berman Contemporary is pleased to present: Amogelang Maepa, Chrisél Attewell and Lee-At Meyerov at ART COLOGNE, held at Koelnmesse, Cologne, Germany.

ART COLOGNE is the world's oldest existing fair for the visual arts born on the 20th and 21st centuries. Around 200 international galleries show their works of art, including paintings, sculptures, photographs, prints, multiples, installation, performance and video art. The origins of today's ART COLOGNE started the year 1967 when the Cologne-based gallery Hein Stünke and Rudolf Zwirner initiated the first Cologne Art Fair.

Introducing the third of our Artist Studio Visit Series, showcasing DuduBloom More.

At Berman Contemporary, we are delighted to announce the continuation of our monthly Artist Studio Visit Series. Our primary aim is to cultivate a bond between our clients, collectors, and art enthusiasts with the artists we represent. In this ongoing series, we will unveil the fascinating world of our represented artists through studio videos and exclusive features on ARTSY. These insights and ‘behind the scenes’ offer a glimpse at their artistic practice, their concepts and narratives that shape their works.

Have a look at our latest viewing room on ARTSY - STUDIO VISIT SERIES: DUDUBLOOM MORE. This online feature showcases the behind the scenes at DuduBloom More’s textile practice.

“Though DuduBloom takes inspiration from her own experiences, her work evokes universal feelings of fragility and fears that happiness may be overturned. Her sensuous pieces generate dialogues within us and have conversations with each other. To amplify their exchanges and connections, the works are presented in pairs, as a triptych or in rows of ten” – Els van Mourik

Art.co.za Watch List 2024

A new annual list of the most on-the-rise artists in South Africa

To celebrate over 20 years of Art.co.za, they have launched a new annual list of the most on-the-rise artists across various media and subject matter shaping the future of contemporary art in South Africa.

They have selected 10 artists who are gained momentum in the past year and who are reaching new heights in their art careers. View the 2024 artists now.

The remains of a conversation with South African artist DuduBloom More

Written by Christi Sa

So, on a cold Monday morning in July, I am on my way to a conversation with South African artist DuduBloom More. This conversation will take place again in my room in downtown Johannesburg at Victoria Yards. And it will be based on a shared experience sparked by the artist. This time it will be a creation of a time in a place to talk about only one thing, the movie Where the Crawdads sing.

Please use the password to access the article: circle

Hosted by the Mothering and Albinism Project and the University of Pretoria
2 October 2023

When you support a mother, you support a child.

We all have a duty to ensure the human rights of persons with albinism. Mothers impacted by albinism grow in resilience when they have respectful maternity care; health education about albinism; and access to genetic counselling, mental health and social services, and skin and eye care. When their child with albinism is embraced by their family and community, they all thrive. Advocacy and peer support through civil society and NGOs, and government policies such as gender equality and disability rights are pivotal.

Ya no quiero esconder mis rizos (I don't want to hide my curls anymore), a discussion with Athenkosi Kwinana and Charlas Rizadas, presented by lo Llevamos Rizo

Held at Galleria Continua Havana, Cuba

Held at Galleria Continua Havana Cuba“September is still Albinism awareness month in South Africa! Awareness matters the most! …even if it is a continent away and -6hours behind!

I am so happy share with you that I had been invited by Lo Ilevamos Rizo to another of their "I don't want to hide my curls anymore" talk sessions. Their talks challenge the ill representation of black bodies in Cuba, with a specific focus on hair politics.

My visit to the talk covered notions related to "what it is like living with Albinism, cultural beliefs and haircare in relation to Albinism in South Africa". The session took an interesting turn as the audience had a lot of questions to ask. Such as... are there any programs or organisations that aid in battle against discrimination experienced by PWA? ...Have I encountered any struggles with taking care of my hair as a black woman with Albinism?

It was a pleasant surprise to receive such an invitation. As a result, I would like to thank you Lo Ilevamos Rizo, Arthaus Artist Residency and Galeria Continua for having me and for allowing me to share a topic that is so dear to my community and I.” – Athenkosi Kwinana

Cow Mash, Venus milk trap, 2019
Image courtesy: Javett Art Centre

Great Expectations: Selected Works from the Collection of the Art Bank of South Africa

Held at the Javett Art Centre at the University of Pretoria

23 September 2023 – 18 February 2024

Ahead of a momentous year in South African history the exhibition “Great Expectations” has been curated with a selection of artworks from the Art Bank of South Africa Contemporary Art Collection to take a moment to reflect on dreams and hopes held for a free South Africa almost three decades ago.

The selected artworks cut across issues of identity, society, the built environment and the spirit of the times. The exhibition continues the conversation on the overall curatorial theme around meaning making by way of visual art, exploring identity, heritage, the self and the collective contemporary South Africa plunged into a reckoning around uncomfortable historic truths and reflecting on the future implications of the decisions made now.