Art lovers were treated to a unique cultural experience on January 31, when the Ditsong Museum of National Cultural History opened its doors to a new exhibition dubbed Kopano (Sepedi for coming together) from four local award-winning artists.

The artists received the Key to the Museum Award at the South African Museums Association (Sama) National Conference Gala and Awards evening last year, and one of the prizes was having their work exhibited at the museum for two months.

Bruce Bowale (painting), Natania Botha (sustainable sculpture), Pinky Manganye (painting) and Malebogo Molokoane (glass) were each presented with the award.

This is a symbolic honour that celebrates emerging artists who show exceptional potential to open doors of creativity, innovation and cultural expression within the museum space.

The exhibit was conceptualised as showing how the different materials each artist uses come together to reflect a collective interest in resilience, how stories are held, repaired and reimagined over time.

Botha said being an artist included in the exhibition gives her hope that not all is lost in a difficult sector to gain traction in.

“Becoming an artist was one of the hardest things for me to do. I left a full-time job where I got paid a good salary and could pay my bills every month. But for me to become an artist, I have lost a lot in the process, but I don’t look at it as a loss because I’ve gained so much. For me to be here as part of the exhibition, showcasing my art, is such a dream come true,” Botha said.

Botha said she’s gained close friends in the industry during her time as an artist and that her story is proof that you can achieve what you hope for, depending on how much you’re willing to sacrifice.

Botha regularly works with people with disabilities through the workshops she facilitates. Two participants created their own sculptures, which were included in her exhibition series. One of the artists is 16-year-old Nikolas Slater, who has Down syndrome, while the other is Kevash Naidoo.

Botha said it doesn’t serve as a breakthrough for only her, but for them as well. She hopes to pursue international collaborations focused on advocacy issues this year.

Bowale said opening an exhibition in January was a motivational experience for him, and what made it more special was that viewers could have a first-hand glimpse into his process. His exhibit consists of works in progress.

During the production of the work, Bowale also found resonance in the book Poor Folk/s, a collection of four short stories written by Tokelo Hlagala. This sparked a collaboration between the two creatives.

Bowale related most to the second short story, For Whom The Bell Tolls, a tale that is reflected in his work. The Kopano exhibition at the Ditsong Museum features 12 pieces of his work.

“The feeling of nostalgia and longing for home, migrating to a new environment and being forced to adapt to new things has always been important to me. When you get to know someone from any discipline, the first thing you ask is where they are from; [as] our backgrounds form who we are.

“That’s why you see paintings like racing the tyres, birthday parties. These are major moments as a young kid, when you grow up, other things matter more, but moments are rare, and that’s why I tapped into them,” he said.

He hopes to collaborate with private galleries and commission works this year. He plans to work with one medium at a time instead of the mixed-material approach he has been known for.

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