Southern Guild Cape Town presents ‘Madoda: Let Us Now Praise Famous Men,’ a solo exhibition by Cape Town-based ceramicist Madoda Fani, on display until August 22nd.

Madoda Fani, born in 1975 in Cape Town, is a renowned ceramic artist known for his bold, unique aesthetic. He began his career as a ceramic painter in various studios, eventually gaining experience in smoke-firing techniques. Fani’s work is characterized by organic forms and intricate hand-carved details, giving his pieces a textured, insect-like veneer. His work has been exhibited extensively, including in collaborations with Chuma Maweni and in clay seating, timber furniture, and bronze sculptures. He has won several awards, including the 2022 LOEWE Foundation Craft Prize.

The exhibition challenges conventional narratives about Black men in South African townships by transforming ordinary household items into thought-provoking ceramic pieces. Madoda Fani’s work encapsulates the softness and resilience of his family, including his grandfather, father, and mentors.

‘Madoda: Let Us Now Praise Famous Men’ also pays tribute to influential Black men in Fani’s life, using the township as a symbolic map. Fani’s primus stove, traditionally made of steel, is reimagined as a metaphor for Black manhood and its inherent vulnerabilities. The exhibition also comments on the community dynamics in Gugulethu, where young men and boys gather around “synthetic hearths,” creating bonds that resist the oppressive origins of townships.

Through his art, Fani critiques the pervasive stereotypes and reductive views of Black masculinity and identity, offering a more complex and dignified narrative.

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