Venue:Durban Art Gallery, Durban City Hall, eThekwini

Opening:  18:00 on Tuesday, 19 March 2019

Opening speaker: Mr Vusumuzi Mkhize, Director General of Arts and Culture

Artist Briefing: 11:00am on Wednesday, 20 March 2019

Informal Walkabouts: 11:00am on Monday, 25 March 2019

Dates: 19 March – 12 May 2019

Tswela Pele is an exhibition of selected works from the Art Bank of South Africa’s first contemporary visual art collection purchased in the 2018/2019 year. The 60 artworks on show represent artists from seven provinces in South Africa. The featured artworks explore a variety of themes from everyday experiences and life patterns to the existential, from the male transculturalism to the female response to social conditioning and examination of the patriarchal cultural construct.

What brings these diverse themes from artists of varied backgrounds is the authentic depiction of true human expression. A right enshrined in the South African constitution.

Tswela Pele will be on show from19 March 2019 until 12 May 2019 and will be opened at 18:00 on Tuesday, 19 March 2019 at the Durban Art Gallery, KZN ahead of National Human Rights Day. A Walkabout of the exhibition will take place at 10:00 on Wednesday, 20 March 2019 and an Artist Briefing will take place on Wednesday, 20 March 2019.

The Art Bank of South Africa is a national programme of the Department of Arts and Culture as part of the Mzansi Golden Economy (MGE) strategy implementation and is hosted by the National Museum Bloemfontein, an agency of the Department of Arts and Culture. The vision of the Art Bank is to promote, foster and stimulate a vibrant market for the collection of South African contemporary visual art.

The Art Bank of South Africa is tasked with purchasing artworks from South African artists, particularly that of emerging artists in order to lease and sell the artworks to South African government departments, private companies and private individuals.

The featured artists are Amita Makan, Asanda Kupa, Azael Langa, Banele Khoza, Bevan de Wet, Cyzo Matladi, Dale Lawrence, Daniel Tladi, Derrick Nxumalo, Franli Meintjies, Gary Frier, Jan Tshikhuthula, John Vusi Mfupi, Karla Nixon, Kenneth Shandu, Khulekani Cele, Klas Thibeletsa, Laayla Jacobs, Lebo Thoka, Luyanda Zindela, Major Ndlovu, Manyatsa Monyamane, Minenkulu Ngoyi, Mmakgabo Mapula Helen Sebidi, Mondli Mbhele, Morgan Mahape, Mothobi Mefane, Poloko Madikong, Qhama Maswane, Richard Bollers, Sandile Goje, Sibusiso Duma, Sifiso Gumede, Sthembiso Luthuli, Takalani Ligege, Thabo Motseko, Thalente Khomo, Victor Geduldt, Wessel van Huyssteen, Wonder Buhle Mbambo, Zolile Phetsane and Zwelinjani Radebe.

Art Bank of South Africa Mission:

• Curating a definitive collection of contemporary South African visual art.
• Promoting financial sustainability for the artists and Art Bank of South Africa through the leasing of art.  
• Nurturing emerging South African artists by expanding the market for their work and providing skills development opportunities.      
• Fostering an appreciation for contemporary art by making art accessible to the broader public in their workplaces and shared spaces.

Attendance of the opening event is free of charge. Durban Art Gallery is located at 2nd Floor, Durban Art Gallery and is open to the Monday to Saturday: 08h30 – 16h00, Sundays and Public Holidays: 10h00 – 16h00 and is closed on: Good Friday.

For more information please contact Durban Art Gallery on 031 311 2264 or Jabu Mngwengwe Jabulile.Mngwengwe@durban.gov.za . For queries about the Art Bank of South Africa, please email the artbankSA on artbank2@nasmus.co.za