Painter and sculptor Samurai Farai's excellent solo continues its run at Origin Art, pulling on the threads of his heritage. The Africa Salon at Gallery 1 has 12 artists on show, celebrating contemporary art and creative talent from across the continent. At BKhz Gallery, see a new body of work by Limpopo-born artist Nelson Makamo. Plus, you can't miss r1.'s winning jacaranda-inspired mural on the façade of the Trumpet building.
As always, Keyes delivers when it comes to food and drinks. Grab something tasty at the Roses mixers pop-up bar in the Atrium, and try Kanpai, where the glam selfie crowd sips on good cocktails. Unwind with a view at Marble, or keep it easy with classic burgers at BGR. If something sweet is what you're after, Pantry is your go-to for affordable soft serve. There'll be live music at Freshly Ground and, when all is seen and done, round the night off with DJ sets at Mix Cocktail Bar.
Keep reading for all the details.
The Trumpet building gets a jacaranda wrap
As the winner of the Amex Jacaranda Art Challenge for 2024, r1.'s striking mural now adorns the façade of the Trumpet building at Keyes Art Mile. Reflecting on his winning piece, Purple Hive, r1. shared, "The artwork was inspired by my kids. We were on a walk, and they were amazed by bees on the jacaranda flowers, which sparked the idea for a purple hive with yellow and purple to represent the bees."
Threads of heritage in Samurai Farai's solo
"With a deliberate homage to ancestral ties and a heartfelt celebration of hybridity, Farai bridges the ancient and the modern by channelling inspiration from historical African civilisations. His sculptures, crafted from Zimbabwean stone in reverence to Shona masterful sculpting traditions, breathe life into his paintings' characters, embodying them in three-dimensional form," reads the curatorial statement.
Dispatches from Africa
"Collectively participating artists in the exhibition contribute to the shared vision of a borderless and prosperous post-colonial, democratic Africa – a future-focused continent in confluence with the world, where dreams are not deferred in favour of survival, and creative possibility is expressed in our own words and image. [...] The curation, selection of works and artists facilitate unique insights into the true diversity and complexity of the African continent, and constitutes identifying as African in the contemporary moment," reads the exhibition text.
For this edition of Keyes Art Night, Maphumulo travels from KwaZulu-Natal to Joburg to share more about her winning installation, Umnikelo. Join her from 19:00.
Kick-start your art collection
Discover masterpieces that won't break the bank with Unlocking Your Collection at Origin Art. There'll be quality art to suit every pocket across mediums and styles, with nothing over R5,000. In addition to the diverse collection on show, this is a chance to engage with the artists themselves and discover the stories behind the works that speak to you. There'll also be practical tips and tricks for beginning and growing your art collection. In the often intimidating world of art, Unlocking Your Collection is a deliberate step towards welcoming art lovers of all levels into the fold.
Where to eat and drink
While art is front and centre at Keyes Art Night, you certainly won't be leaving hungry given all that Keyes has to offer on the dining front. Enjoy beautifully crafted sushi at the Japanese-fusion restaurant Kanpai or giant tiger prawns on the hibachi grill at The Prawnery. Book via Dineplan. Freshly Ground has an expanded menu and now serves drinks. For a tried and true favourite, add tasty Asian street food to the line-up at Momo Kuro on the top floor of the Trumpet building, or try the ramen at Momo's street-level store. Burger and fries? Keep it easy at BGR. Unwind with sunset drinks at Marble (also in the swanky Trumpet building), and if soft serve is your thing, head down the parking lot stairs to Pantry. At just eighteen bucks a pop, you'll be glad we told you.
Easy beats at MIX Cocktail Bar
Once you've caught up with all the Keyes art offerings, head upstairs to MIX Cocktail Bar at MESH Club for something to sip on while you jam to DJs on deck.
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