Writing Art History Since 2002

First Title

The buzzword in the global media, and the continent on every investor and business leader’s radar, Africa is brimming with opportunity and possibility. ARTsouthAFRICA has long been frustrated with the slow pace of transformation in the contemporary African art landscape, a generic bundling of the term ‘African Art’ certainly contributing to the situation.


ARTsouthAFRICA‘s new look

 


With this in mind, we have taken the decision to rebrand the magazine and, in line with our long-term vision, collaborate with and facilitate grassroots transformation. This publication is our platform through which we invite participation, encourage conversation and discourse, and promote cultural understanding and tolerance. Our approach is one of collaboration, to include voices from within and outside of the African continent. We know that our new direction may be met with some resistance, but we hope that these points of criticism and debate will address important issues that assist us in showcasing contemporary art from Africa.

We know that transformation through skills sharing and development, education and empowerment and a strong focus on indigenisation will contribute to creating equal opportunities for all. By inviting guest editors to share their views, and publishing interviews and conversation pieces with established and emerging art practitioners from all over Africa, we intend to present content that is relevant and intelligent, while remaining accessible, engaging and constructive.

In this (our 13th volume), the ‘Interview Issue’, we engage in conversation with a number of carefully selected artists, curators, writers and organisations who we know are truly committed to transformation, to changing perceptions about contemporary African art practice, and promoting the integration of communities that might otherwise not be exposed to the wealth of talent from the continent and the ways in which art can change lives. We thank those who collaborated with us and lent their voices to this important discourse.

We also wish to thank our previous editors; Sophie Perryer, Sean O’Toole, Bronwyn Law-Viljoen and Ashraf Jamal for getting us to this point. Ashraf, in particular, shared our vision of collaboration, and together we co-produced the book, 100 GOOD IDEAS – Celebrating 20 years of Democracy. Recognised as an official projects for Cape Town World Design Capital 2014, the book showcases and celebrates people, organisations and innovations that create positive change and transformation in South Africa.

Africa’s solutions are in its people, and we at ARTsouthAFRICA are proud to say that this magazine is published in and founded on the continent. 
Join us in celebrating our 13th year of homegrown content.

 

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