The Other Side of Jozi

The city of gold, a place of dreams, a direct translation for “Gauteng”, it’s additional character is found in its surname, “Maboneng” a description for a place of light(s), a place of quick thinkers, Gauteng Maboneng.

This city holds promise, some dreams materialize while others become a shot in the dark and only luck is refuge, this city has seen ordinary boys and girls from all corners of the land become great men and women, in some cases, the opposite.

This group exhibition with works by Andrew Ntshabele and Senzo Shabangu; refocuses the lens and pulls a closer look at the other side of these great walls, a dream sold to men and women of this country, to urban and rural dwellers of this land, it draws closer to the false promise and the reality of what this city really is and furthermore the fabrication sold by its ever haunting demeanor, this is Johannesburg and everything goes, some say go big or go home and most go big never to return to themselves.

While the description somewhat casts a certain light on this wonderful city, there is the other side, a side that is sacred and rewarding, this city’s steady step has the power to shape its inhabitants, some find new dreams and the hope to keep them alive, this city is a magical place and a haven for most, it has brought inspiration to artists, ideas to architects, money to businessmen and woman, it has brought a voice to emerging politicians and light to a forgotten dreams, welcome to Gauteng Maboneng, some make it, some don’t.

Andrew Ntshabele, born in the small rural of Moruleng in the North West Province. In 1989 his family moved to the city of Johannesburg amongst the hustle and the bustle of the urban life. His passion and love for the visual arts was identified by his teachers through nursery school right up to High School. This led him to enroll at the University of Johannesburg, which enhanced his knowledge in the world of visual arts. The majority of his works are painted and drawn in realistic style. His subject matter are the poor and the marginalized people who eke out a living in the inner city and its out skirts.

Senzo Shabangu, is from a small village in Mpumalanga Province, called Driefontein. He came to Johannesburg at the beginning of 2006, to become a pilot; instead he ended up studying printmaking at the Artist Proof Studios. His main themes are based on life experiences – the pressures of life in Johannesburg.