Madlozi Contemporary Art is proud to present a compelling new solo exhibition by the celebrated abstract-expressionist, artist George Masarira in association with not just a museum, but also a thriving Creative Hub, Constitution Hill is a cornerstone of South Africa’s democracy.

Artist and creative activist George Masarira utilises his talent, paint brushes, and voice to advocate for the visibility and humanity of the urban poor and marginal by skilfully directing our gaze and towards those living in JAMBANJA - the heart of urban chaos at the edge of economic survival.

In his anticipated new solo exhibition JAMBANJA Urban Chaos Interrupted, abstract artist and painter George Masarira has produced a compelling body of work that brings to life the humanity and faces, the hopes, dreams and resilience of immigrants and the internally displaced.

Art and socially-engaged artists committed to humanity are important instruments for highlighting and addressing injustice in society. They are able to call attention to, and shine a light on the compromised rights of oppressed groups.

This exhibition speaks to cross-border migration. It is officially the world’s biggest humanitarian crisis in contemporary times, with the number of displaced persons growing daily. Millions of Africans join this number annually, journeying to new countries, including South Africa, in search of security, economic opportunity, or safety from violence, political, and social instability in their home countries.

Often they are armed with nothing more than hope, and dreams of a better life. In their host countries, adverse conditions await and their wellbeing, human rights and safety are often severely compromised.

How do you define home when we are always moving for our safety? Or honour ancestors, tell their stories, bury their bones, or practice cultural rituals and feel connected to your roots when you are constantly living with the threat of arrest, eviction and further displacement hanging over you in every new environment. Not your land. Not your house, not your people. No papers.

Keep moving. You are always moving, fleeing avoiding, but your heart longs to stay put, to have work, shelter and dignity. No access. What does this do to you as a human being in the long run?’ – artist George Masarira

The artist explores non-representational styles of art making and abstraction as a language, and Masarira, himself is in-transit and away from home. He journeyed to cities across South Africa and his native Zimbabwe over the last two years documenting the experiences, stories and modes of survival of internally displaced and cross-border immigrants in economic hubs such as Johannesburg and Harare.

His observations and encounters are captured in series of bold and colourful abstract paintings and drawings with textural and unique detailing and linework in vibrant colour and detail. The artist reflects on how each work is layered with symbolic representations of the world he entered, and the narratives he seeks to retell. His work is lively and imbued with movement, bold and engaging while succeeding in impressing on us the humanity of the voiceless.

Masarira’s paintings imply movement as opposed to stasis and are communicative and complex in their narrative structure and composition. He uses a unique combination of mixed media, charcoal drawing and pastels with paper detailing from old maps as a texture, as well as strategically chosen and placed three-dimensional objects such as keys and found objects over layers of paint. To achieve the beautiful and richly contrasting paint textures and impasto accents in his work he uses a large array of brushes and palette knives to achieve his signature style of painting – an approach as layered and complex as the artist himself.

"My work addresses visibility and humanity.

The lives and bodies of ordinary people, workers who hold up the economy are vital to us all and their voices and visibility is important in recognizing their contribution, their labour.

Social challenges such as unemployment, displacement, economic forced migration and survival in the absence of political agency affect their lives and the ability to uphold their humanity and dignity’.

My work in the exhibition also draw s inspiration from my observations of urban life in the modern African city. This place of disorder and hardship, but also adaptability and big dreams, and even illusion. I set out to explore the human spirit's resilience in the face of adversity, the ingenuity born from In the heart of Chitugwidza, Zimbabwe, there exists a place named ‘Jambanja’, a word synonymous with chaos.

It is an informal market for trading goods, perishables – anything that can keep hunger and poverty at bay – and it is a testament to the resilience of a community pushed to occupy open spaces, to vend anything necessary for survival. The chaos is informed by new rules of engagement, by hierarchies of value and importance based on money and power in this microcosm of transactional striving. I am fascinated by how this market-place of dreams and humanity, of supply and demand are also a metaphor for the chaos of our governments in Africa, our communities and what defines them, and the control of access, the exclusions and the rules that govern life, loss and gain'.

Madlozi Contemporary Art is proud to present JAMBANJA Urban Chaos Interrupted , an important and critically engaging new solo exhibition project by abstract artist and painter, George Masarira to engage global audiences around critical themes in society.

The exhibition opens on Saturday 25^th November 2023 at Constitution Hill, with a collector’s preview on Thursday 22^nd November 2023 and we invite you to explore the artist and his works, and to participate in the accompanying programme of talks and artist guided walkabouts. The project is realised in partnership with Constitution Hill and its innovative cultural arm, the Creative Uprising Hub.

To confirm your attendance please email Madlozi Contemporary art.

RSVP Details - Email: madloziart@outlook.com

Constitution Hill Creative Uprising Hub | Lesole@conhill.org.za