Kagiso Gundane
Multidisciplinary visual artist Kagiso Gundane will be exhibiting his latest work at the RMB Latitudes Art Fair, which runs from 24 to 26 May at Shepstone Gardens in Johannesburg.
While the collection is yet to be titled, Gandang revealed that the central theme revolves around healing and draws heavily on African spirituality.
Inspired by her mother, a traditional healer, Gundane, 25, has spent years developing a body of work that explores the complex layers of this spirituality.
This lineage forms the core of his artistic exploration.
“I used African spirituality as a lens to address post-colonial issues in South Africa, particularly issues of black people suffering from colonial trauma,” he explained in an interview. Mail and the Guardian.
“I feel like we haven’t fully healed from that trauma. Trauma isn’t just psychological. It’s also something that’s hardwired into your DNA.”
Through his art, Gundane recognizes the lingering effects of colonial trauma and addresses the deep need for healing in black communities.
His works are more than just visual expressions: they are part of a broader conversation about recovery and transformation.
“This is a healing process and a transition period that we as Black people have to go through.”
The emotional depth of Gundan’s work has a profound impact on those who engage with it, and he recalls a moving moment when, during a walk through a gallery, a viewer was so moved to tears that they felt a sense of release and healing through his art.
Creating art that centers African spirituality comes with unique challenges, especially given the cultural taboos surrounding the subject.
“This is a really heavy subject,” Gandane acknowledged, adding, “It’s always been taboo to talk about this, but I think more people are now having important conversations about it.” “One of the challenges I experienced was trying to overcome the barrier of not engaging spiritually,” he added.
During the creative process, Gundane experimented with kanga cloth, a Dutch printed fabric traditionally worn by healers, as a medium for spiritual communication.
This experiment produced a profound and disturbing experience.
“All I remember is that there was a cloth in my room. As I was sleeping that night, I felt something coming to me and I started shaking. It went all the way down to my stomach and chest.” he speaks.
His mother confirmed it was an ancestral visit and urged Gundane to switch to using canvas.
The incident reinforced the psychological weight of his work.
Nevertheless, Gundan remains committed to using his art to stimulate thought and bring healing.
“My hope in making this film was to start a conversation about how we can move forward and heal the trauma that’s in our DNA,” he says.
RMB Latitudes Art Fair is in its second year as a platform.
One of the fair’s special projects, the Independent Artists Exhibition or Index, brings together an exciting group of independent artists from South Africa, the African continent and the diaspora.
Curator Denzo Nyati says Index promotes subversive activities and explores what it means to be independent.
Contrary to the commonly accepted rule that artists must belong to a gallery, Index aims to break down the barriers that prevent independent artists from participating in art fairs.
