Cape Touching Moments by Bongani Mkhonza

SA 'contemporary art will turn the corner' despite challenges

Cape Town, South Africa

The Corner Gunk
c. 21st Century
Artist: Unknown
Art Review by: Bongani Mkhonza: Curator Cape Africa Platform
Education Officer: Durban Art Gallery
15 June 2008
Cape Africa: YCP



Key Words
The Corner; The Private Corner; Corner House; Cape Corner; Cornering; Black Corner.
African, European, Indian and many other cultures melted together into one rainbow culture (is this true?). The artwork titled “Corner Gunk” at the Alfred De Pass Gallery is presenting the new reality of our social issues and challenges while questioning our histories as South Africans. This artwork takes the shape of our national flag but in reverse. The black part being the dirty corner that continued to be ignored and un-cleaned while re-painting white walls for our visitors to see. The reversal of the national flag could be addressing a range of issues from social mockery to regression since the adoption of our new national flag. One has to be very close though in order to notice this dirty corner. It has to be lived, it has to be felt, before even starting to comment about it. The rainbow rhythm of South Africa… (What a touching moment).

In our national flag what does this black triangular corner represents? From modern art galleries to ancient rock art sites, from museums to cultural villages, from jazz clubs to open air festivals has such critical issues been addressed. Who is willing to do the dirty job? A contemporary artwork like this one presents an opportunity for us as South Africans to go through our back yards, do our critical introspections in order to arrive at the space bigger and lighter than the empty corner where emancipation means the continued re-negotiation of meanings. Where it is acceptable to differ or to be different. Thus presenting endless possibilities of the ways one can live, feel and experience our South African culture.


Bushman family, members of South Africa's most ancient culture - © South African tourism.


My newly constructed corner full of endless possibilities –