A Creative Independence event!
Yebo Contemporary Art Gallery and Royal Villas have partnered to celebrate Swaziland’s 50 years of Independence by hosting a creative and stylish weekend of art and good food at Sharma House in Ezulwini on the weekend of the 24 – 25th of February. The exhibition will open each day from 10 am to 5 pm and entry is free.
Art lovers are invited to come see the exhibition and enjoy drinks and lunch in the beautiful garden. On Saturday, there will be a bar, café and food stalls, tables are set on the lawn for you to sit with friends and relax. On Sunday, Royal Villas are doing a special buffet lunch from 12.30 – 2.30. Price is 180 pp. There will also be a bar and café on Sunday.
Yebo’s Director & curator Aleta Armstrong said: “As artists we wanted to explore and celebrate Independence in a creative way on this special anniversary. We had an open call and twenty-four artists submitted their concepts for the exhibition. There will be over forty new works of art – sculptures, photographs, paintings, drawings and installations which will provide a thought provoking exhibition as we view Independence through the artists eyes. This will be a very interesting exhibition along with our partners and we look forward to seeing everybody there during this special weekend.”
Karol Joszkowski, the GM of Royal Villas said: “Under management of the Royal Villas Hotel, the Sharma House is a luxuriously appointed residence located in Swaziland’s Ezulwini valley. With extensive well-established gardens, an on-site entertainment hall suitable for 350 guests, make it the perfect venue for weddings, corporate functions & promotional launches. The house provides en suite accommodation for up to 12 people. Ideal for large family gatherings and cocktail parties. The stately house boasts an array of entertainment areas both inside as well as al fresco on both tiles and lawns. The expansive rolling lawns are available for marques style set up which is the ultimate position to take in the back-drop views of Sheba’s and Mdzimba Mountains.
It is an ideal opportunity to showcase The Sharma House exclusive facilities in collaboration with a local art exhibition hosted by Yebo Art Gallery in celebrating 50 years of independence this year. We are proudly promoting local Swazi artists. We hope that the event will inspire both the corporate and public domain to celebrate Swaziland’s 50th independence throughout the course of 2018.
Royal Villas sales representative will be on hand during the exhibition to answer any enquire guests might have with regards to the function and accommodation facilities.”
Swaziland National Museum are lending their historical photographs for the exhibition. Their SNTC Director of Cultural Heritage, Rosemary Andrade said “The National Museum has a fair collection of old photographs. It is important to have old photographs because they present to one an image of the past. The photos can help one piece together historical times and images and give us a better understanding of that time.
The National Museum is partnering with Yebo Art Gallery to exhibit to the public, images of where we were at Independence compared to where we are now as a country.
It is important to note that despite the challenges that we face as a country, be it economic development, health, social, we are still one of the most peaceful countries and we cherish this peace and tranquillity. We are also a nation blessed with traditional culture that is rich and binds the nation together in ceremony and dance.”
There will also be an Art Exhibition by Children Living with Disabilities. Their Challenges and Dreams expressed in thirty thought provoking paintings and small essays. This exhibition is on loan courtesy of UNICEF, World Vision, CANGO Children’s Consortium and Department of Children Services in the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office.
Nelisa Lawton and Prosper Takawira, directors of Into Music Society are launching an exciting new CD compilation called Swazi Vibes Vol 1 at the Independence exhibition. “As Into Music Society, nothing brings us more joy than an opportunity to work together with local artists in compiling and recording a variety of contemporary Swazi music coloured with a world view. Most of the songs are sung in Siswati, reflecting the artists’ pride in our culture, traditions and heritage. There are some old traditional favourites which have been given contemporary arrangements. The CD features songs by Swaziland best known artists; Bholoja, Blacknote, Floewe, Itallo, Khole, KrTC, Master P (ft Mozaik, King Terry & Mandisa Mamba), Mozaik, Nomalungelo, Quad Element, Sands, Tiyas King, Tlale Makhene, Velemseni and Ziyawa KaZitha.”
Yebo Art & Design will also be launching two new products to celebrate a creative Independence; a T-shirt and a limited-edition print.
Artists featuring in the Independence exhibition are: Khulekani Msweli, Dane Armstrong, Celimpilo Dlamini, Fela Dlamini, Peter Armstrong, Ngwenya Glass -Sibusiso Mhlanga, James Magagula and Ben Taylor, Phindile Mamba, Marc Nixon, Swag Syndroam, Thabo Sibeko, Aleta Armstrong, Ray Berman, Sifiso Mnisi, Gone Rural, Mesuli Mamba, Helen Moir, Bob Forrester, Mbongeni Dlamini, Hannah Johnson, Thabo Lukhele, Sander de Klerk and Serena Thuli Tapster.