Nobukho Nqaba - Izicwangciso Zezethu…

We make plans, but to what extent can we govern the future?

This exhibition is an autobiographical reflection of the artist’s childhood home and upbringing. It highlights the precariousness of daily life within an informal settlement in Grabouw, a small town in South Africa.

As in many informal settlements, the sudden announcement "Kuyatshaaa!" (there is fire) was often followed by a desperate dash to gather important documents and a sudden stampede as everyone fled to the community hall. Once there, families congregated in groups, and were covered in grey blankets. The blanket, an ashen cape, a temporary source of comfort, was gifted by the governing authorities. The exhibition’s Xhosa title—Izicwangciso Zezethu—means "we make plans." We may plan our lives, but we have no control of the outcome. It is a game of chance.

On view: August 1-October 20, 2019Zeitz MOCAA, Cape Town °