Controversial New South African Art Exhibit Opens At DuSable Museum

A new contemporary art exhibit, “Troublemaker: Art Is Our Only Hope,” recently opened at The DuSable Museum of African American History and primarily features South African art created by Ayanda Mabulu. Photo Credit: Joseph Essex
A new contemporary art exhibit, “Troublemaker: Art Is Our Only Hope,” recently opened at The DuSable Museum of African American History and primarily features South African art created by Ayanda Mabulu. Photo Credit: Joseph Essex

Controversial New South African Art Exhibit Opens At DuSable Museum

BY KATHERINE NEWMAN

The DuSable Museum of African American History recently opened a new contemporary art exhibit, “Troublemaker: Art Is Our Only Hope,” which primarily features art created by Ayanda Mabulu. The exhibit reimagines new relationships between living and past figures of power and places them in various acts of violence or other compromising behaviors. This exhibit is moving, graphic, powerful, and not suitable for children.

“I was really moved specifically by Ayanda Mabulu’s vision of

South Africa and his experience of life in South Africa and the dysfunctional society. Ayanda Mabulu is very disillusioned with the dysfunction that is South Africa and how society has become more unequal even after the birth of democracy and that is what fascinated me,” said Hendrik Klÿnhans, co-curator of “Troublemaker.”

Ayanda Mabulu is known to be a controversial artist who paints the undocumented experiences of underrepresented South Africans, like himself. His mixed-media paintings attempt to visually represent the extreme disparities that he sees in his society. Though his art, he tells stories that are laced with the symbolism of racism, poverty, and corruption of power. Mabulu’s work represents the power of protest art and the role of the artist in activism.

“It’s actually really simple, the common enemy is complacency. This work inspires one to sit up and to actively participate in your democracy. The reason why the work is on the wall is because South Africa, post 94 and post our free election, was the kind of place where you could stand up and be critical of your political leaders. That was not allowed under apartheid. So at the very least, the takeaway from all of this is the idea that we need to be active participants in the system that we call democracy,” said Klÿnhans.

The exhibit is uncomfortable at points, violent and graphic at other points, and overall very emotional which is the whole purpose, according to Klÿnhans who said that, “every single work should be a punch in the gut.”

“This art should be a motivation and every single work should be recognizable. We’ve had people from all backgrounds and all races come to view the exhibit and three people have walked out because they didn’t like what they saw. I can’t change that, but for each person that has walked out, I’ve had probably 10 people who have literally broken down in tears seeing themselves and seeing their stories through the art,” said Klÿnhans.

The DuSable Museum of African American history is known for showcasing and preserving decades of African art and this exhibition marks the first time Madulu will be shown in the United States. Selected pieces by Khaya Witbooi and Kimathi Mafafo are also part of the exhibit.

“I’m honored to be a part of the DuSable Museum even for just a short period of time with the honor of presenting this work. It’s all been a great experience,” said Klÿnhans.

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