Celebrated South African artists are filled with pride as their works take centre stage in the much-anticipated exhibition If You Can Look Hard Enough, You Can See Our Future.
This showcase opens on March 21 at the Newcomb Art Museum, Tulane University, in New Orleans, with an impressive collection running until June 20, 2025.
The exhibition features 50 diverse artworks, spotlighting talents such as Zanele Muholi, Athi Patra Ruga, William Kentridge, Mbongeni Buthelezi, and Portia Zvavahera, among others.
It is explained that each piece reflects a rich tapestry of experiences and narratives, linking the artistic expressions of South Africa with the international art community.
Curated from the Nando’s art collection, one of the largest and most comprehensive archives of Southern African contemporary art, the exhibition first made a splash in 2023 at the African American Museum in Dallas (AAMD).
The curator, Laurie Ann Farrell, received the prestigious title of Curator of the Year from D Magazine for her exceptional work in this endeavor.
Farrell’s vision aligns with that of the late philanthropist Dick Enthoven, who, alongside Spier Arts Trust, began collecting art in 2004.
This monumental collection now provides a unique access point to millions around the globe through bespoke displays in Nando’s restaurants, often serving as a first encounter with contemporary art for many.
Some of the artists who will be featured in the exhibition expressed their excitement with Saturday Star embracing the unique opportunity to share their work internationally.
Tamlin Blake shared, “Having my work presented in this exhibition alongside artwork by my personal art heroes like Dianne Victor and Sue Williamson is a personal great moment. More broadly speaking, it is significant to be able to have my work shown outside of South Africa. The exposure and response from American visitors and art lovers who interpret the concepts and narrative in the tapestry according to their own particular social situations and history adds to the depth of the stories within the tapestry.”
Patrick Bongoy echoed these sentiments, stating, “It's always a privilege to be included in important exhibitions locally as well as internationally. The memorable moments are when I finally find my own techniques and a vision for it.”
Similar feelings were shared by Diana Hyslop, who remarked, “Feeling grateful that my work is reaching a much wider audience is always very inspiring and thrilling for me. You want people to initially react emotionally and then to think about why they relate to the work and what it means to them. I think it is important to allow the audience to make their own interpretations.”
Speaking about the milestones, Hobbs Star said, “Of course, it’s a great privilege to have been included in this international touring exhibition in general, and this is made that much more special as one of my works chosen for the show influenced the choice of the exhibition title, please see a short text describing the work attached. My career spans a little over 3 decades, and in September of 2024 I had my first museum survey exhibition at the Wits Art Museum at my alma mater, the University of the Witwatersrand.”
Other artists featured in the exhibition have gained recognition on both national and international stages.
Saturday Star