We would like to welcome you on Saturday 26th November 2011, 17.00-20.00 hours

Open Studio
Thami Mnyele Foundation Award Winners

Hasan and Husain Essop

Bellamystraat 21 (2nd floor) 1053 BE, Amsterdam


In 2010 during the Dakar Biennale, the twin brothers Hasan and Husain Essop from South Africa received the Thami Mnyele Foundation Award, in occasion of the twenty years anniversary of the Foundation. The prize consisted in taking part in the Thami Mnyele Foundation artist-in-residence program from September till 2nd December 2011.

During their stay in Amsterdam Hasan and Husain Essop were inspired by the urban landscapes: "The night lights inspired us to experiment with outdoor panoramics, we researched socially loaded spaces to capture their atmosphere."

Hasan and Husain make extraordinary images of the community in Cape Town where they grew up which reveal both their fascination with popular culture and their deep Islamic faith. Their work refers to the potential contradictions between modernity and tradition, Islam and the West, and the space that young Muslim men occupy and negotiate in a secular environment.
During their stay they travelled to London to present their design for the national South African Soccer team for Puma, now exhibited at the Design Museum in London.
In the same period they took part in the Bamako Encounters 2011 in Mali and Paris.

For more information contact:

Pauline Burmann
Chairperson Thami Mnyele Foundation
00-31 (0) 6 25023945
info@thami-mnyele.nl

Address Studio Thami Mnyele Foundation
Bellamystraat 21 (2nd floor)
1053 BE, Amsterdam