Dada Khanyisa’s Wooden Works Capture the Beauty of Cape Town

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In a fresh solo exhibition at Sadie Coles HQ in London, Dada Khanyisa’s distinctive ‘sculptural paintings’ are drawing attention. Entitled “this is for you“, this showcase highlights the Joburg-born, Cape Town-based artist’s work, which mirrors their local community in South Africa’s capital city to create a vivid and expressive visual poetry. By merging pop and contemporary youth culture with a richer political background, Khanyisa skillfully conveys the current zeitgeist while injecting it back into the audience with energy, dynamism, and humor.

The exhibit appears to draw on nostalgia and shared history as methods for understanding the current moment. The pieces displayed, crafted from hand-carved wood and found items, have a scrapbook-like feel. Khanyisa’s background in traditional and digital animation is evident in the modernist shapes, adding a captivating touch to a figurative style that blends posed subjects with painted backdrops and three-dimensional elements, creating a choreographed dance.

In an interview with Juxtapoz, Khanyisa shared that she strives to incorporate local elements into her work. She believes this is crucial for anchoring the artwork to a specific location. While she doesn’t aim to portray particular or specific individuals, these are the people she interacts with, and she’s passionate about showcasing a diverse representation of the people in her surroundings.

 

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The exhibition is now on view at the gallery’s Davies Street location.

Sadie Coles HQ
1 Davies St,
London W1K 3DB,
United Kingdom

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2025-03-05 04:55