The FNB Art Joburg Fair, Africa’s largest art market, wrapped up its 18th edition this weekend in Johannesburg. The highly anticipated event culminated on Sunday, offering visitors a powerful showcase of talent and innovation across the continent.
The Joburg fair provided a vibrant platform for artists to share their visions and provoke thoughtful dialogue. One of the most striking exhibitions featured the late renowned photographer Santu Mofokeng, whose “Concert at Sewefontein” debuted a series of previously unseen black-and-white photographs. These images evoke the spirited atmosphere of shebeens—informal gatherings where people sing, dance, and express freedom against the backdrop of everyday life.
According to the Joburg Fair fair’s managing director, Mofokeng’s exhibition and other displays together form “stories of African people,” contributing to a broader conversation about Pan-African identity and cultural reclamation.
Among the standout creators was multimedia artist Nthabiseng Kekana, whose installation titled Sankofa invited viewers to reflect on ancestral loss and personal healing. Presented by Lagos-based Wunika Mukan Gallery, the immersive piece included a grass mat adorned with cowry shells, incense, and traditional beer vessels—items she described as worn by her ancestors.
Artists Exhibit Captivating Works at the FNB Art Joburg Fair
Kekana shared, “It’s for people to go back to retrieve themselves, remember what was lost, and pick up the pieces of what they lost along the way. For me, it was a spiritual journey. In other contexts, everything is spiritual, but it could be about healing one’s inner child.”
The piece resonated on multiple levels, blending cultural memory, introspection, and spiritual reclamation all in one evocative installation.
For Wunika Mukan, the gallery director representing Kekana, participating in Art Joburg remains a significant experience. “It’s one of my favourite fairs,” she explained, “because of the people, the curation, and the galleries here. It’s an honor to exhibit alongside such prominent names. Every time I return, the energy in Joburg feels as warm as Lagos.”
This sentiment underscores how the fair unites artists, curators, and audiences across the continent, fostering creative exchange and amplifying African narratives.
| Artist | Work | Themes |
|---|---|---|
| Santu Mofokeng | Concert at Sewefontein | Memory, freedom, cultural resilience |
| Nthabiseng Kekana | Sankofa Installation | Ancestral healing, spiritual return |
| Wunika Mukan Gallery | Representation of Kekana’s works | Cultural bridge, artistic collaboration |
The fair allowed artists to create immersive experiences and emotional depth, encouraging visitors to engage with heritage, identity, and the resilience of African communities.
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Cultural Reflection: Mofokeng’s photography casts contemporary life within a broader historical and social context.
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Spiritual Reconnection: Kekana’s installation reminds us of the importance of memory and healing in forging identity.
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Pan-African Collaboration: The shared energy between Lagos and Johannesburg highlights cross-cultural appreciation and creative solidarity.
These factors make Art Joburg Fair not just an exhibition space, but a generator of ideas, affirming the growing prominence of African art on the global stage.
As the curtains closed on the 18th Art Joburg Fair, the featured artists carried forward more than their creations—they carried narratives of connection, representation, and spiritual acknowledgment.
For galleries like Wunika Mukan, the fair signals a lasting investment in South African art and transcontinental dialogues. For viewers and collectors, it served as a space to witness how creativity and cultural memory intersect to shape modern African art.
In essence, the latest edition of Art Joburg Fair reaffirmed that when artists from across the continent come together, they don’t merely exhibit—they inspire.
