About
Goodman Gallery Johannesburg is pleased to present new and recent work by Moshekwa Langa, an artist and visual anthropologist who works with installation, drawing, video and sculpture.
Having grown up in Bakenberg, which he left in 1989 to attend the Waldorf School near Pretoria, Moshekwa was particularly interested in visual expression, recording his passing days and conveying his experiences. At first he made drawings and wrote texts, which expanded into sculptures made with corrugated iron and cement bags. This exploration transformed his medium from drawing into other dimensions, one of which resulted in a work titled Skins. Moshekwa moved to Johannesburg where he was an associate with the SABC as a contributing producer and he eventually left for the Netherlands to attend the prestigious Rijksakademie in 1997.
Drawing has been an extended practice for Moshekwa, integrating elements of graffitti, thread, yarn and other material into his work. After living in Amsterdam and finding his footing, he decided to return home and spend time with his family, but also to confront certain aspects of his youth and the unfamiliar present state of his home town. In that time he encountered three dramatic incidents that made him stay in South Africa. The works on show are a series of indirect responses to these traumatic events, the last of which was the passing of his grandmother – Mrs Elizabeth Ramokone Konyana Langa – to whom the exhibition has been dedicated.
Moshekwa cites as among his influences and inspirations daily life, routine, boredom, indifference, passion. He cultivates many friendly relationships with people and travels around the country, as well as spending time in a solitary set up in order to examine what he has experienced – good and bad. This has meant covering rituals of sangomas, grieving, gossip, love and at times being in insalubrious locations. He makes maps of his experiences, encounters, people, places. He pays attention to particular details that are pertinent to him and also uses words as slogans or poetic epigrams, bringing together scraps and residues of history.
Langa’s work has been included in several major exhibitions including travelling shows The Short Century and Africa Remix, the 50th Venice Biennale in 2003, the 53rd Venice Biennale in 2009 and the 29th São Paulo Biennale 2010. He has held numerous solo shows, in his home country, as well as abroad at institutions such as the Cincinnati Contemporary Arts Center (2003) and MAXXI – Museo nazionale delle arti del XXI secolo – in Rome (2005). He recently held a solo exhibition at Kunsthalle Bern, titled Marhumbini: In An Other Time (2011).This is his fourth show in the Goodman Gallery. His work is held in collections including the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Walker Art Centre in Minneapolis, the Museum van Hedendaagse Kunstin Antwerp.
Moshekwa is currently based in Johannesburg, his principal home is in Amsterdam.
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Magic, 2000 Mixed media on paper 140 x 100 cm
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Ngwana Owa La, 2006 Mixed media on paper 100.5 x 70.5 cm Available
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Mosadi Moholo, 2006 Mixed media on paper 140 x 100 cm
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The day of the wedding, 2008 Acrylic, pen and pastel on paper 212 x 94 cm
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With a Criminal Intent, 2007 Mixed media on paper 77 x 57.5 cm
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Phenomene , 2008 Mixed media on paper 106 x 78.5 cm
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You will find us, 2008 Mixed media on paper 106 x 75.5 cm
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Imagined, 2008 Mixed Media on paper 106 x 75.5 cm
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Ngwana, 2005 Mixed media on paper 150 x 110 cm
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Realised, 2002-2012 Mixed media on paper 100 x 140 cm
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Blue Lagoon, 2012 Mixed Media on paper 140 x 100 cm
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What is a Home Without a Mother, 2008 Mixed Media 150 x 110 cm
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Night Life I, 2002 Mixed media on paper 150 x 110 cm
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Sealoga, 2006 Mixed media on paper 70 x 50 cm Available
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Night Life II, 2002 Mixed media on paper 150 x 110 cm
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After Muafangejo, 2011 Mixed media on paper 56 x 76 cm
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Thandiswa, 2012 Mixed media on paper 70.5 x 55.5 cm
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Londi, 2011 Mixed media on paper 70. 5 x 55.5 cm
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Khunkwane, 2008 Mixed media on paper 140 x 100 cm
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About Yesterday, 2008 Mixed media on paper 106 x 75.5 cm
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Two People, 2002 Mixed media on paper 122 x 86 cm Available
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Nonwane, 2002 Mixed media on paper 122 x 86 cm
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Sepoko, 2002 Mixed media on paper 122 x 86 cm
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Barbie City, 2002 Mixed media on paper 122 x 86 cm
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Dilo Dilwana, 2003 Mixed media on paper 122 x 86 cm
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Khensani (for Tshepho), 2008 Acrylic, pen and ink, crayon, pencil, collage and varnish on paper 140 x 100 cm
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Untitled (Ronaldo), 2002 Mixed Media On Paper 100 x 140 cm
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Family, 2008 Mixed media on paper 140 x 100 cm
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Miracle in the rain, 2008 Mixed media on paper 140 x 100 cm
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Xavier, 2003 Mixed media on paper 140 x 100 cm
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Matsie, 2003 Mixed media on paper 122 x 86 cm Available
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Xolani, 2008 Mixed media on paper 140 x 100 cm
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Beast, 1999-2010 Tea, coffee, acrylic, salt, transparent lacquer, pencil on paper 140 x 100 cm
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Gae / Home, 1999-2010 Mixed media on paper 140 x 100 cm
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Lalie - for a loving son and a dear Father, 2007/8 Mixed media on paper 140 x 100 cm
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Millie (Spectres), 2011-2012 Mixed media on paper 203 x 301 cm Available
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The Wedding, 2007 Mixed media on paper 77 x 57.5 cm
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Windows, 2011-2012 Mixed media on paper 135 x 303 cm
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Installation picture [Moshekwa Langa / Ramokone / 2012]
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