PJ Morton Releases his album “Cape Town to Cairo”

Jun 21, 2024 | New Release, Music

With the release of an album unlike anything he has ever done before, PJ Morton takes listeners on a trip from Cape Town to Cairo. Out now via Morton Records/EMPIRE, the unprecedented project is to Morton what Graceland was to Paul Simon, except that the 5x GRAMMY-winner fully created his new LP during a 30-day journey across Africa. With no music, lyrics or preconceptions, he stepped foot onto the continent last autumn with only the dream to make a record in a month, and a mission to immerse himself in as many different cultures, stories and communities as he could. Reflecting on his travels – from Cape Town and Johannesburg to Lagos (Nigeria), Accra (Ghana), Cairo (Egypt) and back down to South Africa again, most of which he was visiting for the very first time – PJ Morton says:

“I wanted to capture the emotions I felt while I was on the continent, so I made a promise that I wouldn’t write anything before I arrived in Africa, and I wouldn’t write anything after I left – I ended up recording all my vocals before I left too. It really was an experiment in trusting my instincts. I have the ability to overthink as many of us do, so I wanted to spark something that had real stakes. What ended up happening was that all of my raw thoughts and influences came out all at once. There’s of course R&B and soul, but there’s also gospel in songs like ‘Simunye,’ pop in ‘Count On Me,’ jazz on ‘All The Dreamers,’ all combined with the inspiration of Africa. We didn’t have the luxury of time to police which genres would fit where, and the origins of all this music started in Africa anyway. Cape Town to Cairo is the diaspora in music form, done my way.”

Find the latest dates for the Cape Town to Cairo Tour below, and tickets on-sale here

Listen to “Cape Town to Cairo” Here

Press release courtesy of Sheila Afari

Deji Dada and Matthew Edwards launch ‘Waste-to-Wear’ with Heineken, creating beauty from discarded bottles

Jun 20, 2024 | Creatives, Community

Joburg-based creatives Deji Dada and Matthew Edwards have collaborated on a sustainable design initiative, the ‘Waste-to-Wear’ project. Now gaining international traction, this initiative backed by Heineken South Africa is significant for making a dent in the landscape of glass recycling and sustainable design.

Their brief, in light of Heineken’s 2023 campaign for their new returnable 650ml bottle, was to utilise Heineken’s localised waste stream to create homeware and accessories from discarded bottles. Heineken South Africa identified a pressing issue with non-returnable beer bottles being broken and abandoned in fields, particularly in low-income communities. These discarded bottles created unsafe and inaccessible spaces for residents. To address this, Heineken SA launched a campaign to clean up these broken glass ‘hotspots’, transforming them into green zones under the tagline ‘Fields green with grass, not glass.’

Due to the limited access to smaller-scale glass recycling facilities in South Africa, Dada and Edwards collaborated with Ngwenya Glass, a renowned factory near Mbabane in Eswatini. This partnership was pivotal, combining Ngwenya’s expertise in artisanal glass products with innovative design concepts to create items Ngwenya Glass had never produced before (such as the pendant light).

The collection includes 3000 rings and 3000 medallions for Heineken South Africa employees, as well as a smaller range of homeware items, including vases, dinner sets, and a hops-inspired pendant light. Each product is handmade, highlighting the unique quality of glassmaking where every piece is a one-of-a-kind creation.

Through the Waste-to-Wear project, Dada and Edwards have successfully recycled close to 800kgs of glass. This initiative not only addresses environmental issues but also showcases the potential of sustainable design. By creating meaningful and beautiful products, Waste-to-Wear aims to raise awareness for glass recycling and inspire further innovation in sustainable practices.

As previously mentioned, the project’s success has been recognised internationally, winning Bronze at the New York Festivals Advertising Awards 2024. This showcases local design taking a global stage with a socially responsible and sustainable core.

More details about this award can be found here.

Press release courtesy of Deji Dada

 

For more news, visit the Connect Everything Collective homepage www.ceconline.co.za

Surrender – and Other Lessons Of Imperfection with Zizipho Poswa

Jun 18, 2024 | Editorial, Interviews, Art

Zizipho Poswa is committed to a process of surrender in her work. As an artist for whom clay is her primary medium – a substance that itself is as direct from the earth as one could have to work with – Zizipho knows, no matter the scale or intention of the work at hand, there is a point at which the guidance of her hand begins and ends; afterwhich the fire and clay become intertwined together. Their dance is an elemental convergence and Zizipho’s ability to allow this unfolding is central to her work. Ruptures and explosions, cracks and crevices may emerge; yet, this all necessary in a process as substantive as sculpture and ceramic. 

For Connect Everything Collective’s June 2024 Cover, Zizipho Poswa becomes an embodiment of her process and sculptures, in a self-referential array of images, collaboratively initiated between the CEC Media’s Editor-in-Chief, Zizipho and her long-time stylist Onesimo, along with the Imiso Studio team, led by Gisela Gold and brand architect Del Mar.

Zizipho Poswa photographed by Kitso Kgori
On an autumn Friday, the solar-lit studio became a canva – a set – and a scene, all in service to the expression of Zizipho as a sartorial incarnation of finding grace and surrender as an artist, captured by photographer Kitso Kgori. For Candice Erasmus, our publication’s founder and Editor in Chief, the creative direction of this cover was first sparked by the awe-inspiring body of work ‘uBuhle boKhokho (the beauty of our ancestors)’, a collection of Zizipho’s seismic sculptural works inspired by the artistic hairstyling traditions of Black women across the African continent and diaspora. As Candice explains, “the direction of the cover was inspired by the structure and form of Zizi’s sculptures – her use of texture and height. I wanted the images to be self-referential to her own bodies of work and the way that she creates these larger than life sculptures. Zizipho’s personal style is part of her collaboration with Onesimo, and we wanted her stature and presence to be central.”
Zizipho Poswa photographed by Kitso Kgori
The development of the cover became a fluid and dynamic space of reciprocity, with Zizipho’s stylist Onemiso curating the wardrobe, and Imiso’s (Zizipho Poswa and Andile Dylvane’s shared studio) Brand Architect, Del Mar, lending his art directive vision to initiate a conversation of the imperfect aspect involved in creation, a side that’s not often spoken about in the artistic process. As Del Mar explains, “the pieces that fall apart are something that Zizipho is quite familiar with in her process – she likes the work to create itself. Zizipho views the work very much like her child, and is open to taking risks that can either rupture or embed a new texture or layer. This process of not knowing is a very matriarchal, mother process that Zizipho has had to go through herself, to understand that you hold this item for a while but ultimately must be let go.” Del Mar crafted the ceremonial circle, in which Zizipho becomes the clay itself; surrounded by artefacts from Imiso, and reflective of the studio’s continued focus on ceremonial work, as the passages of time, successes and blessings move through their hands. 

On the wardrobe, Onesimo comments that “it was important to bring in the element of craft. There’s this idea of imperfection that is threaded through this editorial, so we wanted to make everything very sculptural. Most of the pieces were custom made for Zizipho. There is also a beautiful set by Lesiba Mabitsela, which was actually the only piece we sourced.” Lesiba’s design philosophy is rooted in a deconstruction and re-imagining of pattern-making and form, as a part of a decolonial sartorial practice. Xola Makoba, hair and make-up master, led the process of configuring Zizipho’s hair as sculptural homages to ‘uBuhle boKhokho (the beauty of our ancestors)’, and the make-up as its own reflection of the artistic process.

Zizipho Poswa photographed by Kitso Kgori
On the call of imperfection, Zizipho shares that, “there is so much beauty in imperfection, especially in the creative process. I just allow it to be what it is. You can’t erase, clay has memory, and there are so many surprises that can unfold – from handbuilding to the  application of glazes, and  the clay itself , these nuances will only be revealed once the clay has undergone the firing process. They’re like birthmarks and they’re so special. I choose to leave them as they are’’. This cover is a consequence of collaboration as a method for realising dreams, and Zizipho echoes that, “I am inspired first and foremost by my community. There is so much I have to honour in the process of making – from naming the piece itself, I acknowledge the people that have played an important role in my life, so wherever the piece ends up it carries the names of the people who have had an impact in my life. I work with a team that is so amazing and that understands what I am trying to say. It is never just me, and we are a team that is twenty years in the making, we need each other.”

Lastly, Connect Everything Collective’s team notes that the synergistic collaboration behind the June 2024 cover is a road-map for the publication’s vision. In sharing gratitude for the collaborative effort, “working with Onesimo was an important part of this process as he and Zizipho already have a long standing collaboration and he really understands her through her own sartorial lens. Xola Makoba is an incredibly talented creative who has worked with Onesimo and Zizipho before, so we knew that would create a lot of confidence and comfort when it came to shooting. It was an honour to have Gisela and Del Mar, who are part of Imiso’s team, support this project and how Zizi was being represented, and Del for his art direction and development of the ceremonial circle; with artefacts that reflect the energetic process that exists at Imiso, translated onto set and then through these images. Then of course, working with photographer and friend of the publication, Kitso Kgori – we have wanted to create something beautiful together for a long time, seeing how she works and shoots so meticulously is a culmination of conversations and connection.”

Zizipho became CEC’s cover choice after our beautiful interview with her last year. As such a prolific artist who is doing such extraordinary work both locally and abroad, these images are exaltations between the boundaries of art and fashion, embodiment and identity. We are truly and irrevocably honoured. 

Zizipho Poswa photographed by Kitso Kgori
Credits

Talent: Zizipho Poswa
Photographer: Kitso Kgori
EIC & Creative Direction: Candice Erasmus 
Production Assistant & Art Direction: Grace Crooks
Stylist & Art Direction: Onesimo
Styling Assistant: Lindani Khawunjika
HMUA: Xola Makoba
Brand Architects: Gisela Gold and Del Mar of Imiso Ceramics
Studio: Hero Daylight Studio
Retouching: Jay Ry Co

Written by: Holly Beaton 
For more news, visit the Connect Everything Collective homepage www.ceconline.co.za

NTS x Diesel Tracks SA Presents DORMANTYOUTH

Jun 14, 2024 | Music, Community

The exploration of music & club culture continues as NTS x Diesel TRACKS arrives in SA to showcase local emerging DJs. Rooted in the connectivity of music and nightlife, TRACKS brings together a mix of progressive musical talent from around the globe to promote the universal language of club culture, connection, and party, and now the spotlight is on South Africa to showcase local emerging DJs that fly the flag for SA’s distinctive music scene and nightlife culture. Every last Friday of the month, NTS x Diesel TRACKS SA will be championing local upcoming talents and allowing listeners to discover new sounds spanning GQOM, House, Amapiano, Techno, Club, Experimental, and Drum & Bass.

For this month’s iteration, Diesel have collaborated with local legend DORMANTYOUTH – explore the sounds hidden between the walls, structures and designs that come together, building the urban party culture that is Joburg, with their mix. 

DORMANTYOUTH, anon-binary architect, inspired by the spontaneity, wildness, constant flux, the method in all the madness and fast-paced energy found in every corner of the city, to create their own pockets of stillness for the queer community. This was all a research method to complete their master’s dissertation. Don’t be confused, their stillness is merely a space, where they craft sets that blend electro, techno, hard bass, and abrasive sounds with soothing melodies, to offer a reimagined approach to the urban club culture for queer communities while opening it up for those who simply want to lose themselves in intentionally designed sounds.

As they continue to study, master, and craft a specific blend where architecture meets DJing, DORMANTYOUTH, is just getting started as the DJ whose sets’ offer a thesis into the urban culture that is the City of Gold – one to be studied by the rest of the world.

Visit the Diesel website to listen to the DORMANTYOUTH mix Here

Or visit the global website Here

The exploration of music & club culture continues as NTS x Diesel TRACKS arrives in SA to showcase local emerging DJs. Diesel is proud to announce that NTS x Diesel TRACKS, which launched globally last year, has landed in South Africa for the first time. Rooted in the connectivity of music and nightlife, TRACKS brings together a mix of progressive musical talent from around the globe to promote the universal language of club culture, connection, and party, and now the spotlight is on South Africa to showcase local emerging DJs that fly the flag for SA’s distinctive music scene and nightlife culture. Every last Friday of the month, NTS x Diesel TRACKS SA will be championing local upcoming talents and allowing listeners to discover new sounds spanning GQOM, House, Amapiano, Techno, Club, Experimental, and Drum & Bass, just to name a few.

ABOUT NTS RADIO

NTS is a global music platform and radio station, broadcasting from over fifty cities every month. It started as a DIY passion project in Hackney in 2011, with the aim of creating an alternative to stagnant mainstream radio. Since then, NTS has expanded with permanent studios in Los Angeles, Manchester, and Shanghai. The platform has over 600 resident hosts, composed of a mix of musicians, DJs, artists, and everything in between. 

Consistently championing the underground scene and a leading voice in alternative culture, over half the music played on NTS isn’t available on Spotify or Apple Music. With a growing global audience of 2.8 million monthly listeners, NTS is broadcasting the best in underground music on a mass scale – completely free of charge and without on-air advertising.

 

Press release courtesy of Moxi

 

For more news, visit the Connect Everything Collective homepage www.ceconline.co.za

John Gómez and Nick the Record present their compilation ‘TANGENT’

Jun 14, 2024 | New Release, Music

To celebrate 10 years of one of London’s most loved underground club nights, Tangent, Mr Bongo have launched this new compilation series. Crafted by its two residents, John Gómez and Nick the Record, it aims to transmit a taste of Tangent’s spirit. A party rooted in inclusivity and open-mindedness, whose name captures the spontaneous switches in musical direction that are a defining element of their nights. For the compilation, the pair have cherry-picked a selection of their prized, rare and dancefloor-ready tracks from around the globe, that have soundtracked the past decade of parties.

Friends for close to 20 years, music lovers, record obsessives and internationally renowned DJs in their own right, John and Nick have two lifetimes worth of musical knowledge to draw from. John is a long-standing NTS Radio resident and compiler for Music From Memory. Nick is one of the UK’s go-to record dealers, resident DJ since the ‘90s at one of Japan’s pioneering parties, Life Force, and co-captain / co-edit-expert of Record Mission with Dan Tyler (Idjut Boys).

In 2014, the pair decided to bring some of Life Force’s grassroots principles to the UK, whilst channeling underground clubbing institution Plastic People’s meticulous attitude to sound. Tangent grew from being a small gathering of friends, to an established fixture in London’s nightlife, whilst always maintaining a strict no guest DJ policy. “As London’s clubs have become increasingly reliant on international guests, we wanted to emphasize the importance of a club night growing through its residents”, John and Nick reflect. With 10 years of the duo at the helm, an intimate connection between DJ and dancefloor has been built, allowing for freedom of expression on both sides of the decks.

Tangent reaches around the globe and across different eras to make connections that stimulate emotional reverberations in the unfamiliar. Where the blissfully Balearic ‘Laberinto’ by Miguel Perikás, goes hand-in-hand with the Cameroonian hip-house of King B.’s ‘Love is Crazy’. The thundering ‘Amek Amek’ by L’Innovateur Djoe Ahmed et le Zoukabyle, rubs shoulders with the soulful Caribbean-influenced touch of Champagn’s ‘Bel Ti Négress’. And Pellegrin El Kady’s afro-cosmic ‘Seiva de Carnaval’, crosses paths with Kajou’s Kompa disco anthem ‘Tet Chajé’.

This compilation represents an ongoing dialogue between past and present, transporting listeners to the heart of a pure musical experience, where open minds and open hearts are eager to follow the tangent.

Preview “Tangent” for release on 12 July Here

Press release courtesy of Only Good Stuff

RAH and the Ruffcats release their latest LP “Orile to Berlin”

Jun 14, 2024 | New Release, Music

A contemporary Afrobeat album from Berlin’s RAH & The Ruffcats is here! It’s an LP steeped in Afrobeat and highlife, but with funk sensibilities and a hip hop attitude, titled “Orile to Berlin”.

As one of the most sought after and technically sublime working bands in the German live music scene, Berlin based Ruffcats are something of an institution. This eight-piece outfit made up of some of the country’s most revered session musicians, pool all of their diverse influences and come together as Ruffcats to create a unique take on the music they love.

Since forming in 2007, and via their live jams at Bohannon Soul Club in Berlin, Ruffcats have found themselves acting as the backing band for artists such as Georgia Anne Muldrow, Sweet Charles, Lady Alma, Jaguar Wright, Miles Bonny & many more. In and out of the studio, they have also worked continuously with German soul singer Flomega, and in 2013 the Ruffcats were the touring band for the first Voice of Germany winner Ivy Quainoo.

In the meantime, and for over a decade, Rapturous Apollo Helios, better known as RAH, has been making a name for himself as one of Berlins’ most outstanding rappers, songwriters and vocalists. Originally hailing from Lagos, Nigeria, RAH’s music has always been influenced by his environment as well as a rich history of black music from hip hop to soul and, of course, Afrobeat.

Since relocating to Berlin, RAH has made waves in the German capital with his weekly Swag Jam sessions. At these live events he has not only been able to show off his prowess as an exceptional MC and something of an improvisational genius, but also attract such luminaries as Erykah Badu and Bilal to join him on stage.

Having crowned his journey from Lagos to Berlin with the release of his debut album, How Far? in 2018, RAH began the next stage of his sonic adventure by hooking up with long-time friends, the Ruffcats band. Their first single together, the Curtis Mayfield influenced Shifting Sands, dropped the same year to huge acclaim, and it wasn’t long before both parties looked towards working on a larger project together. After a pause for the pandemic, their collaborative process really began to bear fruit, and following the release of the warmly received singles Agidi, MoonSun and Sorry, they now present their debut full length LP.

Preview “Orile to Berlin” for release on 12 July Here

Press release courtesy of Only Good Stuff

Robert PM of French Horn Rebellion releases ‘Speed of Light’ feat. Zeshan B

Jun 14, 2024 | New Release, Music

Robert PM, label head of toucan sounds, 1/2 of Indie Dance darling French Horn Rebellion, is here with his latest single, “Speed of Light” a burning hot collaboration with soul vocalist, Zeshan B.

In 2023, Robert PM’s label, toucan sounds was nominated ‘breakout label of the year,’ by DJ Mag North America. In the studio, he has credits with some of the most influential artists of our time, ranging from pop (Purple Disco Machine, Autograf), to underground house (Ron Trent, AceMo), to alternative (MGMT, Two Door Cinema Club). As a DJ, he has performed on 4 continents, headlining and sharing the stage across multiple genres – on the disco tip, (Breakbot, Felipe Gordon) – to house (Glenn Underground, Miss Kittin) – to indie dance (RAC, Digitalism) – and more.

Chicago native, Zeshan B’s breakout album “Vetted” was released in April 2017 to commercial and critical acclaim with the album debuting at #8 on Billboard’s Top 10 Albums (World Music) and peaking at #1 on iTunes’ World Music charts. Since then, he has toured with frequent appearances at Lincoln Center, Bonnaroo, Electric Forest Festival, House of Blues, Kennedy Center, the Blue Note, Riverside Church and the Canadian National Exhibition. He has performed for two US Presidents– Jimmy Carter and Barack Obama– with the latter performance taking place at the White House’s historic inaugural Eid Celebration in 2016.

Listen to “Speed of Light” feat. Zeshan B Here

Press Release courtesy of Only Good Stuff

‘BEYOND SURFACE-LEVEL AESTHETICS’ – WOOLWORTHS PRESENTS #STYLEBYSA WITH AMY ZAMA

Jun 12, 2024 | Fashion, Community

Woolworths is back with another round of #STYLEBYSA, the series that shines a spotlight on key figures shaping South Africa’s creative landscape. Rewind a decade, and ‘Style By SA’ shook up the collaboration game between brands and people, by harnessing fashion talent across the country. Now, this series has been revived into something entirely new, putting the art of the campaign as an autonomous flex of sartorial insight, through self-styled edits in which the Woolies’ cast of creatives put their own spin on the latest pieces of WW Fashion’s latest collections.

We’re in the heart of winter, and renowned fashion storyteller, consultant and stylist Amy Zama brings us a lesson in going beyond surface-level aesthetics, into a highly conceptualised campaign, punctuated by crimson hues and her signature, chrome accessories. Shot by photographer her collaborator and friend, Aart Verrips, this #STYLEBYSA is a portrayal of Amy’s work as rooted in a deep understanding for the nuances of perceptive design and storytelling – as Amy notes on what inspired her to pursue her career pathway, “being able to open up a world and let people see beautiful things using clothes, being able to tell stories, it’s my love – and something I was forever surrounded by.”

Photography by Aart Verrips

Amy’s work cuts across many aspects of South Africa’s creative landscape. Having built up the style curatorship for Levi’s Haus of Strauss for Africa, Amy is a longtime collaborator of Thebe Magugu, and is currently a contributing editor for the label’s annual yearbook, Faculty Press. Amy is also a co-founder and creative director of cult-brand Backyard, a collective/brand hybrid founded with Shadin Kara – in and amongst Amy’s extensive list of clientele, campaigns and ultimately, her resonant creative vision. Amy’s sharp attention to detail is unyielding, and her work reflects an innate ability to stay attuned to cultural shifts that continues to ascend beyond said surface-level aesthetics. Stylists are invariably the singular most important asset to the realisation of any visual story; and nothing escapes Amy’s foresight and scrutiny. When you’re witnessing Amy’s work, you’re witnessing a conceptual masterpiece. 

Whether it’s Woolworths’ latest cropped trench or cosy, cable-knits for the season – Amy’s edit is also a love-letter to her relationship with accessories. When asked what she never leaves the house with, Amy shares that its “earrings, rings and sunglasses” – beyond the scope of basic ‘bag essentials’, Amy is that fashion icon, and it’s evident why; these finishing touches transform her signature style. In a world mired and steeped in copy+paste antics when it comes to style and trends, Amy’s #STYLEBYSA shares just how critical it is to engage one’s own individuality when dressing any piece, or emphasising any detail. 

Photography by Aart Verrips

Through Amy’s lens, fashion reflects its true status, as a medium for self-expression and cultural commentary. Amy’s work resonates deeply, because it speaks to what we wear, why we wear it, and the stories we carry with us as we navigate this world. What a choice for #STYLEBYSA – we’re in awe.

SHOP AMY’S #STYLEBYSA EDIT HERE

Written by: Holly Beaton

For more news, visit the Connect Everything Collective homepage www.ceconline.co.za

Joburg Contemporary Art Foundation presents ‘Ecospheres’: a trilogy of exhibitions exploring Worldmaking

Jun 11, 2024 | News, Art

The Joburg Contemporary Art Foundation (JCAF) is embarking on a new three-year research theme called Worldmaking, which refers to the ways we collectively make the spaces that we inhabit around us through symbolic practices. Over the next three years, JCAF will explore this concept through a trilogy of exhibitions, along with an accompanying series of talks and publications. 

“The human drive towards meaning-making leads us to both consciously and unconsciously build our world from social conditioning, scientific rationality, artistic traditions and our own struggle for survival,” says JCAF’s Executive Director, Clive Kellner.  

The first exhibition titled Ecospheres, opens to the public on 31 May 2024, and aims to address the topic of ecology, the environment, climate and the natural world through the concept of making-with (living with). “The process of making-with suggests that nothing makes itself,” says Kellner. “When we make-with, we are inextricably bound to the earth. There is a sense that we – as humanity – are responsible for the  earth and all living creatures as a form of stewardship.” 

Ecospheres unpacks the notion of Symbioscene, the thinking that humans are to live as part of a harmonious interaction between all living creatures. This is opposed to the period we are currently living  in, known as the Anthropocene, where human activity has been the dominant influence on climate and  the environment. 

Based on the elements of Water, Air and Earth, the exhibition is divided into three Atmosphere Rooms. These Atmospheres function as conceptual spaces that foreground and amplify various artists and artworks in relation to the thematic ideas of the exhibition. Water is engaged as a mediator connecting  the natural world to people, places and identity. The properties of Air as both a political and poetic  construct are examined through the bonds of kinship, migration, diaspora and the lingering effects of  atmospheric violence. The section on Earth embodies ideas of indigenous knowledge and sustainability, exploring how local indigenous knowledge informs the creation of ideas that shape art, culture and food.  

The exhibition is an immersive experience that includes installations of hydroponic plants, oceanic inspired knitted textile, botanic photography, sound and meditative paintings of migratory birds. Visitors will also have the opportunity to enjoy a newly built Reading Room within the gallery. This space, designed by Wolff Architects, serves as a library for one book: the Ecospheres Reader, and is intended for  convivial gatherings and discussions.

 

Featured artists: 

Sutapa Biswas (India/United Kingdom) 

Ximena Garrido-Lecca (Peru) 

Bronwyn Katz (South Africa) 

Zayaan Khan & Coila-Leah Enderstein (South Africa) 

Mater Iniciativa (Peru) in collaboration with Alejandra Ortiz de Zevallos Rodrigo (Peru) and Isabella Celis (Colombia) 

Rithika Merchant (India) 

Ernesto Neto (Brazil) 

Zizipho Poswa (South Africa) 

Jonah Sack (South Africa) 

Zina Saro-Wiwa (Nigeria/United Kingdom) 

Russell Scott (South Africa) 

Michael Tsegaye (Ethiopia) 

Special projects: 

Wolff Architects (South Africa) 

Rebecca Potterton (South Africa)

Exhibition dates: 31 May – 7 December 2024  

Bookings can be made on the JCAF website 

Exhibition viewing is by appointment only  

Entrance to JCAF is free to the public 

 

About JCAF  

JCAF is a foundation dedicated to research, technology and art. As a hybrid institution, JCAF combines  an academic research institute, an innovative technology laboratory and a platform for museum-quality  exhibitions. JCAF is a non-collecting foundation, which does not own art or house a private art collection.  JCAF curates its programmes according to a three-year theme, the second being Worldmaking (2024– 2026). Research from the first theme, Female Identities in the Global South (2020-2022), is available at www.jcafjournal.org.za. Our ethos is to advance the appreciation of modern and contemporary art  through the production, sharing and preservation of knowledge. 

One of the unique aspects of JCAF is its approach to exhibitions, which proposes a personal encounter  between the visitor and the artwork. Our aim is to slow down the experience of looking at and engaging  with art, so as to instill an approach to viewing art that is reflective rather than consumerist. The foundation  has a touchscreen in which visitors can explore information about the building and organisation history,  our research and previous exhibitions.

Press release courtesy of JCAF

 

For more news, visit the Connect Everything Collective homepage www.ceconline.co.za

“Connecting Dots” – showcasing Mzansi fashion at Paris Fashion Week

Jun 10, 2024 | News, Fashion

It’s no secret that South Africa has always been home to a vibrant culture of fashion, music, and art. As the global appetite grows for what’s on offer, a group of community-led brands have set their eyes on Paris Fashion Week this June. “Connecting Dots” will aim to showcase South African fashion at the intersection of music and culture through a 3-day pop-up in the heart of the fashion capital.

With South African culture gaining prominence internationally, it’s vital to establish our presence within these communities and create our own spaces. ‘Connecting Dots’ serves as the pivotal link in connecting South Africa to the global stage.

From June 20-22, Connecting Dots will host a vibrant showcase of South African culture, intertwining music, style, and community spirit. Local brands Backyard, Grade Africa, Long Season and Valhalla. Will preview some of their latest ready-to-wear pieces in Bastille, the heart of the city. 

Fête De La Musique (also known as World Music Day, is an annual music celebration that takes place on 21 June. Connecting Dots will be curating an in-store event against the backdrop of a uniquely South African soundscape, featuring a surprise line up that will encapsulate the theme of “Mzansi to Paris”.

Backyard is a Johannesburg-based, sonic-led fashion brand and agency. Originally event-focused, the brand has expanded into Fashion, Events, Music, Production, and Art, housing entities like Backyard Clothing, TREBLE+, Rumar, and A Live Experience by Backyard. Their mantra, “Make Noise, Not Friends,” drives them to explore diverse themes through art, photography, fashion, and more. Comprising of six young, culturally diverse creatives known as the “Noise Makers,” they’re committed to pushing creative boundaries. “I think its important that we tell our own stories in real time. And only through community could these stories be shared,” Shadin Kara, founder.

Grade Africa is a streetwear brand in South Africa with a mission to inspire individuals to elevate themselves and their communities. Their name pays homage to the foundational first grade, where important fundamentals serve as a springboard for future growth and success. Grade Africa’s unique style blends African heritage and contemporary fashion to create a bold and modern aesthetic that reflects the vibrant spirit of South Africa. “Returning to Paris to host a pop-up with my homies is a testament to the power of unity and collaboration. Together, we bridge cities and cultures, proving that when we move together, we create connections that transcend boundaries” Zaid Osman, founder.

Valhalla is a conceptual brand based in Johannesburg, South Africa. Established as a clothing label, it bridges the realms of high-end and street wear to produce ready-to-wear garments. The word Valhalla is derived from Norse mythology and stands for “Hall of the Fallen”, which is believed to be the Heaven for the greatest warriors. The meaning behind the name of the brand is purposeful to the founder, as it resonates with the ideal of the brand – which is to make high quality garments and great product that can withstand the test of time. “The greatest change comes from disruption,” Helder Tamimo, founder.

Long Season is a South African brand dedicated to storytelling and archiving through fashion. Offering ready-to-wear high streetwear, the brand leans on simple shapes and carefully considered proportions to create multi-functional, transformable pieces. There is an emphasis on the feel and function of their pieces, aiming to have them be a valuable addition for the expression of the wearer. Long Season believes their approach to minimal but impactful design encapsulates the stories they are passionate about and celebrates retrospective wearable inventions. “Paris to see the fashion. Paris to be the fashion,” Kgomotso Kholoane, founder.

Press Release courtesy of Connecting Dots

 

For more news, visit the Connect Everything Collective homepage www.ceconline.co.za