Writer: Miss Simone | Artworks: Ellis House
At Ellis House in the Ellis Park precinct, studios can be arduous and loud, sometimes quiet and unattractive. There are no hangers-on, only work. Place & Practice: Collective Voices from Ellis House, now showing at the UNISA Art Gallery, gathers this energy and presents an exhibition that looks closely at what it means to make art collectively in the shifting spaces of the urban periphery.
Curated by Tshegofatso Seoka, the exhibition brings together varied perspectives from artists at different stages in their careers, including Phumzile Buthelezi, Lehlogonolo Masoabi, Senzeni Marasela, Cassius Khumalo, and Belmiro Jemusse. Their practices span painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture and relational aesthetics, each rooted in personal vision yet connected through shared space and mutual exchange. The works address critical issues such as womanhood, cultural appropriation, evolving art technologies and the shifting imagery of urban life.
The exhibition foregrounds collective artmaking as a significant mode of practice within urban peripheries, situating artist studios as vital spaces where marginality, informality and socio-cultural dynamics converge. Drawing from the rich history of South African pioneer art centres such as Rorke’s Drift and Polly Street, Place & Practice highlights the importance of art centres as incubators for cultural innovation, intercultural dialogue and the expression of local identities.
Cassius Khumalo
Aligned with UNISA’s Department of Art and Music’s commitment to curriculum transformation, the exhibition engages artists employing multimodal approaches to connect with unrepresented art communities. This fosters expanded knowledge production, enriches teaching and learning, and advances the inclusion of marginalized voices within art education.
As part of its public programme, the gallery will host a panel discussion on 20 August 2025 from 12:30 to 15:00 in the Kgorong Building, Pretoria Campus. Exhibiting artists Buthelezi, Marasela, Khumalo and Jemusse will discuss their practices, exploring themes of art as community, creativity in the periphery, spirituality and materiality. Moderated by Mrs Boitumelo Kembo, Chair of the Curriculum Transformation Committee in the Department of Art and Music, the discussion will connect the artists’ lived experiences with broader efforts to transform South Africa’s arts sector.
Place & Practice runs until 22 August 2025 at the UNISA Art Gallery.
RSVP: seokate@unisa.ac.za
