Art meets philanthropy as Zanele Muholi embarks on a new chapter - The photographer has created a nurturing space for young creatives to tell their own stories by setting up the Muholi Art Institute in Cape Town
as clearly as I do now. To be honest, I could not have been bothered to understand their work as a young exchange student from South Africa, having arrived only eight weeks before in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
The film is seminal and symbolic, one of many works Muholi has poured themselves into for the betterment of humanity. Their work has been recognised worldwide, consistently revealing a commitment and tenacity to see others being represented on their own terms — and with dignity, an inner motivation that is ingrained in them.
Bester l, a photograph dedicated to Muholi’s late mother, who was a domestic worker most of their life, is juxtaposed with the kitchen area, where food is served by waitrons, a firm and telling testament of the activism Muholi speaks of in their work, of their political stance and firm belief in the importance of black visibility.
Establishing MAI came with many challenges and it is in these challenges they’ve seen the importance of collaborating across disciplines. At the launch of MAI, the artist invited fellow creatives, such Nomonde Mbusi , Napo Masheane , Charmaine Carrol and Indlovukazi Mapule , to speak to young artists and encourage them to tell their stories, irrespective of the circumstances in which they find themselves.
“The cultural programming and environment offer stimulating engagement and critical exchanges between local, pan-African and global artists working, studying and visiting,” explains Muholi. On a visit to the institute, at first glance, it is a blank canvas, with the wonderful Table Mountain peeking through the large windows. The light in the space is soothing — a space for any young creative mind to set their sights on a beautiful journey
Moving through the MAI space, different artists occupy its studios, sweating and working hard to release their economic prowess to the world. Back in 2011, when I witnessed Muholi win the Africa in the Picture Festival award in Amsterdam, presented by former festival director, Heidi Lobato, one could not have known how much the artist would accomplish and how unstoppable they would prove to be.
I was completely moved by ‘Difficult Love’ back then at the African in the Picture Festival in Amsterdam. It was the first Muholi body of work I experienced, and it continues to haunt and captivate me even now, 11 years later. To watch ‘Difficult Love’, a film that won them the African in The Picture Award for the Best short film, is to deep dive into the unjust and violent reality of the LGBTIQ+ community, which was previously overlooked.
Notwithstanding the exhibition in Rosebank, Muholi is also embarking on a new chapter. With a team of creative minds from different parts of the SA, they are making new inroads from Durban and Cape Town managed to unite with surrounding businesses to birth the Muholi Art Institute, also known as MAI. This is a unique space for critical and creative intellectual and cultural intervention – a community.
“The Muholi Art Institute is self-supporting and unique in its identity as an organisation and its ability to invest in the education and careers of young creatives while also building a strong sense of community to foster and support robust intellectual ideas in the arts, literature and academia.The organisation encourages self-reliance, expansive thinking and new ideas within a community of acceptance, a safe space where creative expression can thrive.
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