The African Man takes centre stage at Keyes Art Mile

For the 2018 season of Art & Design Saturday

The 2018 season of Art & Design Saturdays will kick off at Keyes Art Mile on Saturday 10 March with a dynamic programme that explores the evolving style and representation of the African Man through art and design.

In partnership with Merchants on Long in Cape Town, Keyes Art Mile has curated a pop-up exhibition entitled ‘African Man: Rising Stars of Menswear Design’ featuring the collections of Rich Mnisi, Chulaap, MaXhosa by Laduma, Xipixi, Kisua, Native and Lukhanyo Mdingi. Making a rare appearance in the popular Johannesburg art and design precinct, the designers will fill the newly lit atrium with African-inspired pattern, earth-based palettes, slick signature style jackets and casually distinctive T’s.

A pop-up collaboration with True Design, ROW-G International will treat visitors to a display of their latest made-to-measure menswear collection defined by superior craftsmanship and leading-edge technology.

An exhibition of male portraits by award winning visual artist, Justin Dingwall will be on view in The Atrium coinciding with the artist’s solo exhibition ‘Fly By Night’ currently showing at Lizamore & Associates.

A video screening of ‘Pantsula’ by Chris Saunders will take place in the cinema at MESH after its recent inclusion in ‘Items: Is Fashion Modern?’ exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) New York. The film will be on rotation throughout the day.

Events: 
Throughout the day will be shared with design enthusiasts across the continent via an Instagram takeover by AFRICAN L’HOMME – a digital lifestyle platform based in Lagos, Nigeria that is dedicated to inspiring the modern, African man.

Beyond The Atrium, visitors can brave the day with a shot of caffeine or enjoy a casual breakfast at MilkBar, before popping in at Shelflife for the cloak and dagger launch of a new range of Nike sneakers.

SMAC
Will have on view a newly launched exhibition by Asha Zero’s entitled ‘set user’ while Everard Read will be hosting a walkabout with Bronwen Findlay at 10am for her show ‘Painting Hokusai and Other Worlds’. Across the road at Circa you can expect to see Michael MacGarry’s new solo exhibition, ‘We are now what you once were’.

Don’t miss ‘The Invisible Exhibition’ from William Kentridge’s Centre for the Less Good Idea. On view in the gallery space adjacent to The Atrium, this exhibition kicks off a new initiative by Keyes Art Mile to create and exhibit works embracing new technologies by emerging and established contemporary artists.

Watch this space:

For lunch head up to Marble – just one floor up – to take in the breathtaking panorama over Joburg and view the new art in their private dining rooms.
Alternatively, MESH will have on offer a special brunch for the day and a selection of bespoke cocktails from their brand new bar MIX and BGR will be serving up their famously delicious burgers throughout the course of the day.

And if a little more designer retail therapy is in order, people can make their way back downstairs to Okapi, which will be featuring their latest collaboration with MaXhosa by Laduma before enjoying a drink at the Gin Bar in The Atrium and listening to live jazz by Planet Lindela.

Lucy MacGarry – best known as the FNB Joburg Art Fair curator for two years and more recently the South African Pavilion at the 2017 Venice Biennale – has been brought on board by Keyes Art Mile to curate a 2018 season that focuses on both visual arts and design. “Each Saturday will offer a newly curated focus to keep visitors intrigued and ready to return for another dose of creative inspiration, bringing together new and established voices across a range of disciplines,” she says. “We’ve mixed it up to offer something of interest to a wide range of people – emerging creatives, experienced art collectors and those with a keen eye for innovative design.”