At BKhz, The 5-year Cultivation of A Field of Dreams
Celebrating the fifth anniversary of BKhz, A Field of Dreams stands as a testament to Banele Khoza’s dedication to the contemporary African art landscape, materialising the extent of his journey and showcasing his gratitude to the artists he’s worked alongside.
Warning: Trying to access array offset on value of type bool in /home/themaeda/public_html/wp-content/plugins/henrik-core/inc/shortcodes/image-gallery/class-henrikcore-image-gallery-shortcode.php on line 246
In the heart of South Africa’s ever-evolving artistic landscape, one name shines resplendently — Banele Khoza, a visionary whose creative spirit has been a beacon of cultural dialogue, experimentation, and collaboration. As an independent artist establishing BKhz became a pivotal juncture for Banele that provided the opportunity to broaden the scope of validating potential and nurturing conceptual visions — an endeavour that was traditionally more accessible to artists affiliated with galleries. By extending this opportunity to independent artists who might otherwise remain detached from crucial support systems, Banele’s vision fosters a newfound sense of collectivism, collaboration and care.
As BKhz commemorates its fifth anniversary, the gallery presents A Field of Dreams, a collective exhibition that blends unwavering gratitude with creative expression to serve as a bridge between the studio and the market. This exhibition not only acknowledges the invaluable support of the gallery’s patrons and friends but also stands as a visual testament to the profound impact it has had on shaping the contemporary African art scene. The gallery’s journey has been a symphony of shared dreams and A Field of Dreams is a harmonious chord in this extraordinary composition.
Banele started curating in 2015 after realising that his contemporaries weren’t sharing the same spaces that he was. 3 years later, he could still see the vast difference between the opportunities he was attracting and the fact that other artists weren’t coming into the gallery field, birthing the idea of sourcing opportunities for other creatives, leading to the creation of BKhz in 2018. “I had the idea of creating a home for myself,” says Banele.
Exhibitions frequently centre around a ‘man of the hour’ or an ‘artist of the moment’ and reflecting on this concept deeply made me realise that an artist’s journey could change with fleeting focus. I envisioned a space where creative work isn’t confined to a brief moment of recognition, as dictated by market trends, instead, it becomes a lifelong pursuit, embodying a more profound purpose.
Warning: Trying to access array offset on value of type bool in /home/themaeda/public_html/wp-content/plugins/henrik-core/inc/shortcodes/image-gallery/class-henrikcore-image-gallery-shortcode.php on line 246
Warning: Trying to access array offset on value of type bool in /home/themaeda/public_html/wp-content/plugins/henrik-core/inc/shortcodes/image-gallery/class-henrikcore-image-gallery-shortcode.php on line 246
As much as it’s a celebratory reflection of the last five years, for the public, A Field of Dreams is also a gentle invitation to expand the ways the gallery’s approach has been read or understood to prepare for a future of expansive possibilities. BKhz’s artist-centred gallery model thrives on a foundation of community, and A Field of Dreams plays two roles: primarily an opportunity to thank the people who back the gallery, and also as a visual means to celebrate the contribution BKhz has made to contemporary African art today.
A Field of Dreams opened this past weekend and features works by over 20 of the country’s most exciting contemporary artists, including Sphephelo Mnguni, Mashudu Nevhutalu, Ayobola Kekere-Ekun, Heidi Fourie, Terence Maluleke, Lunga Ntila, and WonderBuhle (to name a few) each of whom have collaborated with BKhz since its founding in 2018. The exhibition runs until the 16th of September at BKhz, 9 Keyes Ave, Rosebank, Johannesburg.
