On the Sanlam Arts Round Up, meet Carmen Joubert, co-curator of THEY CAME AND LEFT FOOTPRINTS showcasing the sculptures and prints of Lucas Sithole and Cyprian Shilakoe.
Listen to the Arts Round Up on Fine Music Radio FMR 101.3fm on Fridays at 17h30
Carmen Joubert, co-curator with Karel Nel of THEY CAME AND LEFT FOOTPRINTS provides the background to this exhibition. The artworks come from the Homestead artworks at the Norval Foundation, and some works from the Bruce Campbell Smith Collection, which are also held at the Norval Foundation.
This was a wonderful opportunity to bring together these two artists that use the same type of aesthetic in their figures, They use these tall etiolated figures to look at their haunting narratives of solitude and disconnection that they carve and that they draw,
This was the 1960’s and 70’s, a tough time for black artists in South Africa. Shilakoe was fortunate to attend Rourke’s Drift Arts and Craft Centre where he was able to hone his skills. Sithole was initially discouraged from being an artist, and it was his grandmother that supported him. He started working in a soap factory and used soap to carve figures. He was encouraged by Cecil Skotnes, who at that time was running the Polly Street School in Johannesburg.
Both Carmen and Karel Nel thought it essential to organise this exhibition to showcase the outpouring of their work, They have added extensive texts and information to make this an immersive experience. Carmen also reveals that the name of the exhibition is based on the words carved into Cyprian Shilakoe’s sculpture – see the lead photo at the beginning of this article.
- On 21 May at 11:00, Carmen will be doing a walk-about of the exhibition. No booking is needed – it’s open to all. Suggest you use this opportunity to get an informed overview of this excellent exhibition.
And another few dates to diarise:
- 18 May is International Museum Day and all visitors will receive a 50% discount on entry to Norval and all the 4 current exhibitions!
- 17 May is Yoga in the Garden | 09:00 – 10:00
- 31 May is Art & Sip: Drawing Experience | 11:00 – 14:00
LOTS of good reasons to visit the Norval Foundation! Head for Tokai and ENJOY!
WHAT: THEY CAME AND LEFT FOOTPRINTS – Lucas Sithole and Cyprian Shilakoe
WHERE: Norval Foundation, Gallery 9, 4 Steenberg Rd, Tokai, Cape Town 7945
WHEN: 9 May – 21 August 2025
INFO: T 087 654 5900 | E info@norvalfoundation.org | VISIT | Instagram @norvalfoundation | Facebook NorvalFoundation | LinkedIn NorvalFoundation | See also Norval Foundation – THEY CAME AND LEFT FOOTPRINTS – Lucas Sithole & Cyprian Shilakoe
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