Shepherd Mbanya, former resident at the Thami Mnyele Foundation (1997), shows work in the group exhibition AGAINST THE GRAIN - Sculputer from the Cape - November 2013 - February 2014 - Sanlam Art Gallery -
OPENING: December the 3rd, 2013 at 19:00, Sanlam Art Gallery, Sanlam Head Office, 2 Strand Road, Bellville, South Africa.
AGAINST THE GRAIN questions the dominant narratives of South African wood carving, firmly in place since the Tributaries exhibition (1985), that have failed to recognise the existence of black wood-carvers outsides of the 'Venda' region. It also questions the reasons behind the low visibility of black African wood sculptors internationally, suggesting that black wood-carvers have been unduly prejudiced since the development of new discourses in contemporary African art since the 1990's.
Participating artists: Isaac Makeleni (b. Vasco, Cape Town, 1950; d. Nyanga East, Cape Town, 2008) Ishmael Thyssen (b. Jan Kempdorp, Northern Cape, 1953; l. Retreat, Cape Town) Shepherd Mbanya (b. Bishop Lavis, Cape Town, 1965; l. Khayelitsha, Cape Town) Timothy Mafenuka (b. Gugulethu, Cape Town, 1966; d. Khayelitsha, Cape Town 2003) Thami Kiti (b. Machibini, Eastern Cape, 1968; l. Khayelitsha, Cape Town)