Blue Is The Warmest Colour
06.02.20 - 28.02.20
BKhz has committed itself to reshaping and expanding perceptions of contemporary art in South Africa. Since the second half of 2018 they have allocated as much — if not more — space, visibility and time to the work of emerging artists as it does to that of the more established. By giving these newer, often unorthodox, artists room to exist for public consumption, BKhz acclimates them to the social, economic, political and administrative processes of contemporary art. The director, Banele Khoza, attributes this to having a team that is as black, pan-African, femme and queer as the artists they exhibit.
So far BKhz has made their mandate known through four solo exhibitions and over 15 group shows in their Braamfontein space or the Pretoria Art Museum. After successfully holding space for artists and expanding the understanding of contemporary art to audiences in Johannesburg and Pretoria, the team has decided to test its model on coastal waters. With a location that sits a stone-throw away from gallery strongholds: Stevenson, Goodman Gallery and Blank Projects, BKhz will have its first group show at its pop-up space in Woodstock, Cape Town. The location has to do with the entity’s aspiration to flourish among the country’s main galleries and one day establish itself as their peer. The show is as a result of a partnership between BKhz and Houtlander, with the support from the American Hardwood Export Council and the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS)
Titled Blue Is the Warmest Colour, the group show takes its title form the 2013 French film and graphic novel of the same title. Here a teenager who is uncertain of her sexuality cathects with an art student who opens up her up to an unrestrained existence that welcomes desire and passion. Throughout the film the colour blue is a focal point that is seen in the lighting of rooms, the clothes they wear and the love interest’s hair and eyes. Much like the melancholic Blue Period that Pablo Picasso went through, the colour blue stands as a symbol of the intense emotion, curiosity, sadness and passion that the protagonist is going through during a period focused on self discovery. As the intensity wanes, so too does the film’s blue.
“It’s about understanding the dynamics of blue in the arts,” says BKhz’s director, Banele Khoza. In addition to mentioning the influence of Picasso and his own connotations to the colour, Khoza references French artist Yves Klein’s development and sole use of an ultramarine blue in his work. To keep with the BKhz brand, Blue Is the Warmest Colour has emerging artists share space with the more established. Khoza explains that the selection of artists saw them inviting those that have supported BKhz and continue to invest in it by bringing in their works, letting us into their studios and approaching us before we approach them.”
While some of the artists have worked with blue, the show sees others being challenged to explore territory that is outside their practice. The multi-modal group show saw BKhz calling on artists Vusi Beauchamp, Vuyolwethu Ndakisa, Seth Pimentel, Jodi Bieber, Lunga Ntila, Banele Khoza, Nkhensani Mkhari, Nelson Makamo, Tatenda Chidora, Nobukho Nqaba, Oratile Papi Konopi, Cole Ndelu, Bernard, Brand Ke Neil We, Jamal Nxedlana and Thando Salman.
Parisian artist Julien Creuzet will take part in the show for non-commercial purposes. For a more interactive layer, work from design house- Houtlander’s collectable range in American Oak will form part of the show and serve as seating for the patrons who visit the space. Houtlander has been working with Khoza since they partnered with him and Tshepo Sealetsa on the creation of a lounge and outdoor area for the interior design competition, Win A Home 2017.
Blue Is the Warmest Colour takes place from February 6 to 28 at 41 Sir Lowry Road, Woodstock, Cape Town. A walk-about will take place on February 15. For more information visit bkhz.art