February, 18 th - 20 th
Contemporary South African Cinema
Short film review by Silvia Bolzoni
The ten artists presented have deep roots in the cultural and political realities of their country: Willie Bester, Bob Bobson, Conrad Botes, William Kentridge, Sam Nhlengethwa, Esther Mahlangu, Tommy Motswai, Zwelethu Mthethwa, Norman Catherine and Marlene Dumas.
“These artists came of age in the midst of the climactic years when the struggle for freedom took place in public protests, in prison cells and in the art studios where the images of struggle were conceived.”
It became “increasingly clear in this exhibition that South African art has built up its own contemporary identity in reconciling the rituals and symbols of the tradition with the contradictions of the present. What comes out of all this is a highly innovative and provocative language, still largely to be discovered, that is quite capable of standing the conventions of western art on their head.”
“To be able to finally give South African art its passport, or at least a residence permit, means questioning those cultural stereotypes that confidently decree what is worth promoting by museums because of innovation and what is pure convention.”
The exhibition catalogue, with introduction by curator Pierluigi Siena, includes essays by Alberto Fiz, Enrico Mascelloni, Martina Corgnati and Bozzie Rabie.
In parallel to the exhibition a review of young black South African cinema was on the programme, with 11 fictions and 3 documentaries chosen by Trevor Steele Taylor, co-director of the Cape Town International Film Festival, that showed a broad and complete panorama of the current production. The short film is often an obligatory choice for the young black film directors that still struggle against lack of means as well as mistrust. With it they can find a faster and more independent way to approach the cinema. In particular, PORTRAIT OF A YOUNG MAN DROWING by Teboho Mahlatsi won the Silver Lion for best short film at the Venice International Film Festival 1999.
The exhibition catalogue (in Italian, German and English) is available.
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