Blue Is The Warmest Colour (Johannesburg Edition)

15.03.20 - 11.04.20

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 morespace, visibility and time to the work of emerging artists as it does to that of the more established.

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, Seth Pimentel, Jodi Bieber, Lunga Ntila, Nkhensani Mkhari, Nelson Makamo, Heidi Fourie, Tatenda Chidora, Nobukho Nqaba, Oratile Papi Konopi, Cole Ndelu, Bernard Brand, Justice Mukheli and Jamal Nxedlana.

Blue Is the Warmest Colour takes opens on the March 14 at 68 Juta, Braamfontein,Johannesburg. The walk-about has been postponed till further notice.

Further inquiries: info@bkhz.co.za