Blessing Ngobeni's striking surreal painting typically explore "a mindset of a society influenced by power and its impact on individuals". In this exhibition Ngobeni looks at slavery and the perpetuation of inherited patterns of mental and physical oppression. The exhibition is named for the chicotte, a kind of whip made from hippopotamus hide and used in the Congo during the reign of Belgium's King Leopold to oppress, punish and kill scores of Congolese people during the brutal and horrific years of colonial rule.<br /> <br /> Opening event Thursday July 7 at 18:00.