Cover image: Moshekwa Langa Untitled - Tape I (2009) Red wine, mixed media on paper 100 x 140 cm 40 x 55 inches as seen at Goodman Gallery . FRIEZE London 2014 Langa grew up in Bakenberg, a remote town in Limpopo, and left in 1989 to attend the Waldorf School near Pretoria. As a child he was particularly interested in visual expression, recording and documenting his daily experiences. Initially working in drawing and text, he later expanded into sculptures made with corrugated iron and cement bags, and began experimenting with various other media. He moved to Johannesburg where he worked as a contributing producer for the SABC, and in 1997 left to attend the prestigious Rijksakademie in the Netherlands. Drawing has been an extended practice for Langa, incorporating elements of graffiti, thread, yarn and other materials. After studying and living in Amsterdam for several years he returned to South Africa – to spend time with his family, but also to confront certain aspects of his youth and the unfamiliar state of his hometown. During that time three dramatic incidents occurred that led him to stay in South Africa. The works on show are a series of indirect responses to these traumatic events, the last of which was the passing of his grandmother, Mrs Elizabeth Ramokone Konyana Langa, to whom the exhibition is dedicated. Langa cites daily life, routine, boredom, indifference and passion among his influences and inspirations. He cultivates relationships with various people during his travels around the country, but he seeks solitude periodically to examine and interrogate his experiences. His work documents the rituals of sangomas, grieving, gossip and love. He makes maps of his encounters, using slogans and poetic epigrams to bring together scraps and residues of history. Langa’s work has been included in several major exhibitions, including the traveling shows The Short Century and Africa Remix, the 50th and 53rd Venice Biennales in 2003 and 2009, and the Sao Paulo Biennale in 2010. His work is held in collections including the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Walker Art Centre in Minneapolis, and the Museum van Hedendaagse Kunstin in Antwerp. Moshekwa Langa is based in Johannesburg and Amsterdam.
Posted on: Sat, 22 Nov 2014 01:57:37 +0000
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