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Unveiling ‘Sala’: A Fresh Exhibition at Zeitz MOCAA

‘Sala’ is a groundbreaking exhibition at Zeitz MOCAA in Cape Town showcasing the museum’s collection until April 12, 2026. The exhibition invites visitors to immerse themselves in the art of 17 artists and interact with the museum space. It aims to reshape the concept of a museum, encouraging audiences to participate in the museum’s continually evolving journey and become an integral part of its evolving story. ‘Sala’ is an expedition of discovery through contemporary African art, exploring the potential of what a museum can be and the transformative influence of artistic expression.

Unveiling ‘Sala’: A Fresh Exhibition at Zeitz MOCAA

‘Sala’ is a groundbreaking exhibition at the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz MOCAA) in Cape Town, showcasing the museum’s standing assortment until April 12, 2026. The exhibition invites visitors to immerse themselves in the displayed art of 17 artists and interact with museum space, encouraging audiences to participate in the museum’s continually evolving voyage, questioning and learning, and becoming an integral part of its evolving story.

On December 15, 2023, in the bustling metropolis of Cape Town, the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz MOCAA), a luminary institution in modern art, introduced its novel exhibition titled ‘Sala.’ This enduring collection is planned to be showcased until April 12, 2026. The conception of ‘Sala’ is a result of a research initiative carried out in synergy with the 2023 group of Zeitz MOCAA & University of the Western Cape (UWC) Museum Fellows.

A Deep Dive into the Soul of the Museum

The primary motivation behind this endeavor is to penetrate into the core of the museum’s standing assortment. Simultaneously, it aims to reshape the essential concept of a museum. The undertaking is centered around revealing the underlying principles of the institution, apprehending the function of modern art in society, and analyzing the museum team’s interpretation of the artists’ work.

Driving this initiative is Storm Janse van Rensburg, Senior Curator and Chief of Curatorial Affairs at Zeitz MOCAA. Van Rensburg demystifies the collaborative process that involved multiple museum departments and the Museum Fellows. His objective? To shed light on the formation of the museum’s identity through its collections.

‘Sala’: A Call to Experience a Museum’s Potential

‘Sala,’ which translates to a farewell phrase of ‘sala kahle’ from Southern African language, invites visitors to stay longer, immerse in the profundity of the displayed art, and interact with the spotlighted artists and the constantly transforming museum space. The term becomes an exploration of the boundaries and potentials of a museum.

The exhibition accommodates the artwork of 17 artists, each offering a distinct perspective on the theme of ‘sala.’ Artists like Thania Petersen, Joël Andrianomearisoa, El Anatsui, Athi-Patra Ruga, Cyrus Kabiru, and Edson Chagas each contribute their unique understanding of ‘sala’ within the exhibition.

An Array of Artistic Expressions

The assemblage of work is breathtaking: from audioscapes rooted in spiritual backgrounds to the exaltation of ordinary materials that defies geographical borders. Each piece incites contemplation and discussion, provoking introspection in those who come across them.

Koyo Kouoh, the Executive Director and Head Curator of Zeitz MOCAA, accentuates the exhibition’s part in supplementing African and diasporic artistic awareness. Kouoh encourages audiences to accompany the museum on its continually evolving voyage.

More than Just an Exhibition

The ‘Sala’ exhibition exceeds being just a showcase of modern art; it tries to change the foundational tenets of a museum. It dares to interrogate, to discover, and to contest enduring beliefs about art and its position in society. It encourages visitors to participate in this vision, to question and to learn, and in doing so, become an integral part of Zeitz MOCAA’s evolving story.

‘Sala’ is much more than a mere exhibition; it is a passage through the intellect of the artist, the curator, and the observer. It is an expedition of discovery where the journey commences from the known but the endpoint remains a mystery.

An Exploration and Transformation through Art

Visiting ‘Sala’ means embarking on a quest to explore the confines of a museum and to perceive the potential of what a museum can be. It is a provocative journey through contemporary African art and a testament to the transformative influence of artistic expression.

1. What is ‘Sala’?

2. What is the primary motivation behind the ‘Sala’ exhibition?

The primary motivation behind the ‘Sala’ exhibition is to penetrate into the core of the museum’s standing assortment while reshaping the essential concept of a museum. The undertaking is centered around revealing the underlying principles of the institution, apprehending the function of modern art in society, and analyzing the museum team’s interpretation of the artists’ work.

3. Who are the artists featured in the ‘Sala’ exhibition?

The exhibition accommodates the artwork of 17 artists, including Thania Petersen, Joël Andrianomearisoa, El Anatsui, Athi-Patra Ruga, Cyrus Kabiru, and Edson Chagas, each contributing their unique understanding of ‘sala’ within the exhibition.

4. What is the significance of the term ‘Sala’?

5. How does the ‘Sala’ exhibition change the foundational tenets of a museum?

The ‘Sala’ exhibition tries to change the foundational tenets of a museum by interrogating, discovering, and contesting enduring beliefs about art and its position in society. It encourages visitors to participate in this vision, to question and to learn, and in doing so, become an integral part of Zeitz MOCAA’s evolving story.