Strauss & Co invites residents to their latest exhibition
Working Life in South Africa explores the evolution of labour through the art of two influential South African artists, Gerard Sekoto and Lena Hugo, offering a powerful reflection on the dignity of work across generations.
A striking new exhibition at Strauss & Co in Houghton is inviting Johannesburg residents to take a closer look at the changing face of work in South Africa. Titled: Working Life in South Africa, the annual legacy exhibition opened on April 1 and will run until May 30, coinciding with Workers’ Day on May 1.
Curated by Wilhelm van Rensburg, senior art specialist and head curator at Strauss & Co, the exhibition is a timely tribute to the people who have built and continue to sustain the country through labour, both visible and unseen. Through the works of iconic South African artist Gerard Sekoto and contemporary artist Lena Hugo, the exhibition creates a robust conversation between two generations.
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“This year’s theme focuses on the working lives of ordinary people, from the early 20th century through to the modern day,” said Van Rensburg. “It’s about acknowledging the dignity and humanity of labour across time.”
Sekoto’s paintings depict township life and urban labour amid South Africa’s industrialisation and social change. His subjects – a fruit seller, a garbage collector, and a brickmaker – highlight work as both survival and identity. Featured in the Paris Noir exhibition, his celebrated works are deeply connected to the South African experience.
Hugo presents a modern view of working life through her depictions of drivers, road workers, and factory labourers. Her work reflects the complexities of a new economic era shaped by technology and changing definitions of skilled work, offering a sobering glimpse into life during the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
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Van Rensburg explained that the idea for the exhibition came while examining the University of Johannesburg’s extensive art collection. “We reviewed nearly 1 800 works and came across several compelling pieces depicting labourers in various roles. That led us to compile a list of occupations – barbers, shopkeepers, flower sellers, nannies – and build an exhibition that honours them.”
The exhibition highlights the historical impact of migration, the gold discovery in Kimberley, and the changing roles of women in the workforce, from the 1950s domestic workers, to textile factory employees and educators. These shifts are reflected in the selected artworks, linking past and present.
The works on display include both pre-exile and early pieces by Sekoto, capturing a time before his departure to Paris in the 1940s. Van Rensburg notes the artistic transformation in Sekoto’s style post-exile, providing visitors with insight into how social and political changes influenced his work.
The exhibition is free and open to the public, offering a rare opportunity to engage with significant pieces of South African art and reflect on the many hands that shape the nation’s economy and culture.
Working Life in South Africa is on view at Strauss & Co – 89 Central Street, Houghton, until May 30.
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