Thank you to everyone who joined us on the 2nd of March for the opening of Cow Mash’s solo exhibition, RE GONA and well as A SCULPTURAL SYMPHONY, a group exhibition including the works of Amogelang Maepa, Chrisél Attewell, Lee-At Meyerov, Mellaney Roberts and Paballo Majela.

Els van Mourik, Senior Curator at Berman Contemporary, facilitated a walkabout for each exhibition. Together, Cow Mash and Els van Mourik guided the guests on a journey through the solo exhibition of RE GONA, offering insights into the artist inspirations and artistic process. Additionally, Paballo Majela and Mellaney Roberts shared their stories about their respective artworks featured in the group exhibition.

Both exhibitions will continue to be on display until the 14th of April 2024.

RE GONA
Cow Mash
2 March – 14 April 2024

The South African visual artist Cow Mash draws us into her lineage with the solo exhibition, RE GONA. The title, being the response to “le kae?” (how are you?), translates to “we are here”. In Sepedi, no one stands alone, people speak of themselves in the plural, because every person represents their entire community. RE GONA becomes Mash’s ‘we-ness’ in her ancestral ties, support system and religious bonds. As explained by the artist’s father: “According to the Bible, the purpose of humanity is to multiply.

Curated by Els van Mourik

A SCULPTURAL SYMPHONY
2 March – 14 April 2024
Amogelang Maepa, Chrisél Attewell, Lee-At Meyerov, Mellaney Roberts, Paballo Majela

A SCULPTURAL SYMPHONY presents a group of South African visual artists, which include Amogelang Maepa, Chrisél Attewell, Lee-At Meyerov, Mellaney Roberts, and Paballo Majela. This curated collection outlines the exploration of sculpture, through diverse conceptual and technical approaches. The artists collectively challenge and redefine the aesthetic and conceptual parameters of contemporary sculptural art.

Curated by Els van Mourik

STUDIO VISIT SERIES: COW MASH

Introducing the fifth of our Artist Studio Visit Series, showcasing Cow Mash.

At Berman Contemporary, we are committed to fostering meaningful connections between our clients, collectors, and the artists we proudly represent. As part of our ongoing initiative, we are delighted to unveil exclusive glimpses into the creative process of our artists through studio videos and curated features on ARTSY.

This video explores the world of Cow Mash, and the preparations she worked on for her solo exhibition, RE GONA. Through intimate snapshots of her studio practice, viewers will gain insight into Cow's artistic vision, her chosen mediums, and the narratives that underpin her works.

Have a look at our latest viewing room on ARTSY - STUDIO VISIT SERIES: COW MASH. This online feature showcases behind the scenes ofCow Mash at work in her studio.

"My current creative process is guided by my self-given name, Cow. In my daily existence and in my art, I navigate my experiences and thoughts through cow-metaphors, cow associations, and cow analogies. I create sculptures that speak to the transformation of traditions and culture using various synthetic materials and found objects. My artworks are an investigation of the past from a present perspective and a negotiation of possible futures through the cow as a bridge between everything. My work is an archive that is assisted by cow metaphors to speak of my individual womanhood.” – Cow Mash

WEEKEND BREAKFAST WITH GUGS MHLUNGU AND COW MASH ON WHAT TO EXPECT AT HER SOLO EXHIBITION, RE GONA

Berman Contemporary presents RE GONA, the first solo exhibition by visual artist, Cow Mash at Berman Contemporary’s new home: 223 Jan Smuts Creative Hub. Highlighting a series of artworks, which offers a profound insight into the artist’s ongoing exploration of her Sepedi lineage and community.

OVERVIEW OF INVESTEC CAPE TOWN ART FAIR 2024

Berman Contemporary participated with 2 booths at the eleventh edition of Investec Cape Town Art Fair from the 16th to the 18th of February. We are so grateful to everyone who came by and the amazing team that made this years' fair possible.

Our main booth presented the works of DuduBloom More, Lee-At Meyerov and Odette Graskie who also presented her new artist book. The solo section showcased the works of Chrisél Attewell. Additionally, a ceramic sculpture of Amogelang Maepa was chosen by Investec Cape Town Art Fair to be featured ‘Cabinet|Clay,’ a specially curated section dedicated to a selection of Contemporary South African ceramic artists.

JOHANNESBURG IN YOUR POCKET: JOBURG ARTISTS TO LOOK OUT FOR AT INVESTEC CAPE TOWN ART FAIR 2024

In just 10 years, the Investec Cape Town Art Fair (ICTAF) has become renowned as one of the best contemporary art fairs in Africa, and we're highlighting some of our very own Joburg-based artists bringing a taste of our beloved city’s urban energy to the fair. If you are attending the fair, make a beeline to see them, or add these artists to your list of ones to watch in South Africa’s art world.

The theme for the curated sections of the 2024 edition is Unbound, aiming to break free from “traditional” artistic boundaries and focus on emerging, diverse voices to encourage new possibilities. And these Joburg-based artists know just how to do that.

Included in the fair's Solo section is Chrisél Attewell (Berman Contemporary). Attewell features new works and brings together dualities. The works appear as organic landscapes without boundaries. Her process of making involves walking, collecting, and thinking before she makes an image. She works in layers, then the canvas is cracked and broken to reveal its abrasions. Look out for her newest body of work on show at ICTAF.

UNFOLDING TOGETHER | ODETTE GRASKIE

Odette Graskie introduced her new artist book, titled Unfolding Together, during the Investec Cape Town Art Fair. The response was overwhelmingly positive, with all the first ten copies swiftly finding new homes.

The book explores the complexity of portrait researched in her MA dissertation Portraiture as Intervention: Drawing the Dialogical Relationship between Artist, Sitter and Artwork.

For those wanting to secure a copy of this artist book, we invite you to contact Sonja Meyer, our Gallery Manager at Berman Contemporary to be added to the waiting list.

Email address: gallery@bermancontemporary.co.za
Contact Number: +27 63 160 4056

THE CREATORY | ATHENKOSI KWINANA
The ArtLab is the home to Athenkosi Kwinana
2nd of March - 30th of April

Athenkosi Kwinana, will be utilising The Creatory to explore and make new works for upcoming solo-exhibition opening on the on the 31st of August at Berman Contemporary. The Creatory is an Art Lab at 223 Jan Smuts that serves as a nurturing ground for artists, offering them opportunities to experiment and produce new works. It provides resources and support for artists and writers to delve deeper into their creative processes, fostering innovation, and pushing the boundaries of contemporary art in South Africa.

Follow Athenkosi Kwinana and 223 Jan Smuts on Instagram to track her creative process.

*Visits are welcomed within opening hours. If you would like to meet Athi herself, please check with our gallery manager Sonja Meyer which days the artist will be present.

This is a paid opportunity open to all ages, genders, and races. How to apply - applicants should submit:

1.A profile picture from the chest up
2.Full name
3.Age
4.Race

Please email at athenkosi_kwinana@yahoo.com if you’re interested or know someone who might be. Successful applicants will be notified by 30 April 2024.

TANKWA RESIDENCY | CHRISÉL ATTEWELL

Chrisel Attewell will participate in the Tankwa Artscape Residency at Stonehenge Private Reserve. This project poses the question, “as an artist how do we respond to this landscape in a way that pays respect to the unique desert aesthetic?” and urges the artist to reflect on who should be the present and future ‘curators’ of this landscape, and what responsibility comes with that curatorship? It is the artist who is able to leave another kind of impression, a way of seeing that can affect the conscious gaze of anyone passing or experiencing their work.

Chrisel explains further that her residency at the Tankwa Artscape Residency will be the second part of an ongoing multi-disciplinary and faceted project. The first part of this project took root at the Bodhi Khaya Residency in 2023. The Tankwa lands, like the Bodhi Khaya landscape, are rich in history and biodiversity.

“As two seemingly opposing landscapes, one lush and one deserted, I am curious about the aspects that connect these landscapes in the interconnected web of life.”

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