Southern Guild presents ‘An Order of Being’, the gallery’s first solo exhibition by Manyaku Mashilo, on display until January 25, 2024.
Manyaku Mashilo, a Cape Town artist, creates mixed-media paintings, drawings, and collages that explore spiritual identity, memory, ancestry, community, and belonging. Born in Limpopo in 1991, her work is influenced by photographic archives and interdimensional mapping, linking Black figures in a shared journey of heritage and spirituality. Mashilo’s work has been featured at various art fairs, including The Armory Show in New York and Expo Chicago.
‘An Order of Being’ features a series of figurative paintings that explore a futuristic future world, incorporating elements from her religious background, ancestral roots, myths, folklore, science fiction, music, and archival photographs. Mashilo’s work challenges ethnographic photography, reimagining figures free from historical biases.
The exhibition also features music, drawing inspiration from American composer Sun Ra and his blend of cosmic jazz and Astro-Black mythology. Moreover, it showcases a multi-paneled triptych with large arch-shaped canvases, symbolizing liminal movement and transformation.
‘An Order of Being’ challenges the notion of a singular identity, celebrating the complexity and fluidity of selfhood.
Southern Guild aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of humanitarian, environmental, and societal concerns with targeted projects, large-scale installations, and immersive experiences. Their artists explore personal narratives, cultural structures, and social change.
Source: Southern Guild
