South Africa's “Ama2000s” and Dr. Esther Mahlangu: Reshaping the cultural landscape
A new generation is emerging in South Africa.is known as Ama2000s, these people were born at the turn of the millennium and have left their mark on the cultural sphere of art, fashion, and music. They do so against a backdrop of systemic racism, high unemployment, poverty, crime, government corruption, and deteriorating public services. Despite these challenges, Ama2000 continues to assert its influence and vision, reshaping the cultural landscape as agents of change.
Young South Africa: Documenting the homeland through art
The 2023 edition of 'Human Stories' featured an exhibition titled 'Young South Africa', curated by Kaia Charles. The event featured the work of six emerging photographers: Bea Diamondhead, Fede Cortez, Earl Verlips, Nikki Zuckas, Anita Frazo, Ben Moyo, and Karabo Muki. These artists, belonging to the Ama2000s generation, used their skills to document their homeland and interpret it with a modern perspective. Their work offers a fresh, collective approach to tackling this country's complex history while envisioning a hopeful future.
Esther Mahlangu: Retrospective Exhibition
Meanwhile, the Iziko Museum in South Africa is hosting a retrospective of Dr. Esther Mahlangu's work. Celebrating Mahlangu's more than 50 years of career as a contemporary artist, the exhibition features more than 100 works of art on loan from international collections, historic photographs, short films, and art from her iconic BMW 525i The car will be on display. The exhibition, which will run from February 18, 2024 to August 11, 2024, pays homage to Mahlangu's unique approach to art and her pioneering spirit.
And I realized I was good at drawing: Esther Mahlangu
In collaboration with BMW, the Iziko Museum will present “Then I Realized I Was Good at Painting: Esther Mahlangu Retrospective Exhibition.” The exhibition will feature over 100 of Mahlangu's works from his illustrious career, as well as historical photographs and short films. The work highlights Mahlangu's unique approach to intersecting African culture with modernity and modernity, emphasizing her voice, agency, and pioneering spirit. The exhibition will also feature Esther Mahlangu and her BMW collaborations, including her iconic BMW 525i art car being returned to South Africa for the first time in over 30 years.
The Ama2000 generation and artists like Dr Mahlangu continue to shape South Africa's cultural identity. Through art and creativity, they navigate our nation's complex history and ongoing challenges, offering new perspectives and hopeful visions of the future.