Despite the bad weather a great crowd came to Yebo’s exhibition opening of Swaziland NOW last Saturday afternoon. Lester Adams, a representative of VANSA – The Visual Arts Network of South Africa and Arterial Network was invited by Yebo to open the exhibition. Lester spent the weekend in Swaziland and met the artists to discuss their work and future plans. This was an important beginning for continued collaboration between local and South African artists. S’bu J, from the Swazi poetry group Rooted Soulz performed poetry at the opening, enthralling the crowd. His special poem Poetree was written especially for the exhibition, with signed copies of it were sold. Future collaborations on the cards!
At the opening, Aleta Armstrong also announced that Yebo! Art Gallery now officially represents the following artists:
Ray Berman // Khulekani Msweli // Mesuli Mamba // Mbongeni Fakudze // Aleta Armstrong // Celimpilo Dlamini // Bhekani Dlamini // Dane Armstrong // Thabo Lukhele // Sunshine Nxumalo // Raymond Mhishi // Phillip Mdluli // Peter Armstrong
This list will expand over time as more artists officially join the team. We are currently working on our new website for Yebo! ArtReach & The Art Gallery. We will be launching in October with a new site which features a page for each artist featuring their work and biography, along with lots of other goodies….. stay tuned!
“We – VANSA – normally refer to ourselves as a development agency for the visual arts. What this means is that we are interested in the development of the industry as a whole. I think that South Africa is at an interesting moment – and that -is why I find this exhibition so fascinating – because there are many parallels here too in the work Yebo does and the artists that work with the gallery. Back to this interesting moment – we have seen that artists and other creatives entities are striving for a more cohesive and professional industry. One where artists are moving towards a network of mutual support and vision.
One of the main areas of work we do is around communication, professional development and research. Informing the wider community about the trends, opportunities and developments in the art world. Developing tools for artists to become professional in their output and so in time become regarded as a valuable part of an economy and to become self-sustaining.
This exhibition also represents for us what we do on a more informal basis – that of putting people in a room together – because it is often that the sharing of ideas and the extending of support where the real work happens or the genesis of a collaboration, working relationship or friendship.
We hope that this is the beginning of a stronger relationship with Swaziland and the continued development of a vibrant and energetic young art scene. My congratulations to all the artists – in whose work I see an enthusiasm and love for their work that is rare and heartening. In my conversations with the artists earlier today, I saw a courage in expression that is at the core of artistic practice. I forget who said it but someone once said that art is a the way a society explains itself to itself and I think that is what s happening here. This group of artist represent a keen understanding of the world they live and work in. We would encourage the artsist to share, work hard and to above all communicate and support in any way possible. In this way network form and through networks we devlop as a community that is able to connect.
Thank you to the Yebo Art Gallery and to Aleta for this invitation to experience this new wave of artistic practice, their hospitality and sharing. ”
– Excerpt from Opening speech by Lester Adams