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We, the People: 30 Years of Democracy in South Africa
Pieter Hugo
Loyiso Mayga, Wandise Ngcama, Lunga White, Luyanda Mzantsi and Khungsile Mdod after their initiation ceremony in Mthatha
2008

We, the People: 30 Years of Democracy in South Africa

Jane Alexander » Dineo Seshee Bopape » Nicola Brandt » Candice Breitz » Steven Cohen » Abri De Swardt » Jabulani Dhlamini » Andrew Esiebo » David Goldblatt » Simon Gush » Pieter Hugo » Svea Josephy » Maurice Mbikayi » Sabelo Mlangeni » Sethembile Msezane » Zanele Muholi » Berni Searle » Thabiso Sekgala » Lerato Shadie » Lindokuhle Sobekwa » Sitaara Stodel » Minette Vári » Ashley Walters » Sue Williamson » Kim Wolhuter » & others

Exhibition: 6 Dec 2024 – 23 Nov 2025

Norval Foundation | Art Museum

4 Steenberg Rd, Steenberg Estate
7945 Cape Town

+27 87-654 5900


www.norvalfoundation.org

Mon, Thu, Fri, Sun 10-18; Wed 8-18; Sat 10-20

We, the People: 30 Years of Democracy in South Africa
Jabulani Dhlamini
Umlando IV, 2019

This exhibition, curated by Liese van der Watt for Norval Foundation, offers a nuanced perspective on the country’s democratic journey, framing it not as a static given but an ongoing process. The exhibition utilises “countervisuality,” a concept developed by visual theorist Nicholas Mirzoeff, to disrupt dominant narratives and create space for marginalised perspectives.

Structured around four interconnected themes, the exhibition chooses artworks that delve into the complexities of South African society. “To Belong” confronts the enduring impact of colonial and apartheid land dispossession on notions of belonging. “To Protest” examines the role of social movements in pushing for greater equality while acknowledging the complexities of protest violence. “To Care” explores environmental issues through the lens of Anne Tsing’s “collaborative survival,” highlighting the intersection of environmental and social justice. Finally, “To Be Heard” challenges the simplistic “Rainbow Nation” narrative, advocating for “world-making” as a more accurate framework for understanding the diversity of South Africa’s society and how to negotiate this.

We, the People: 30 Years of Democracy in South Africa
Jane Alexander
Vissershok 2001
Archival pigment ink on cotton paper

By bringing together these themes, and a wide variety of artists working after 1994, the exhibition suggests that South Africa’s democratic project requires more than political rights – it demands economic justice, environmental sustainability, and the ability for all voices to be heard. Through this lens, democracy becomes a collective creative endeavor, requiring active participation in shaping a more equitable and inclusive society. The exhibition thus serves not merely as a commemoration of 30 years of democracy but as an invitation to actively participate in the continuing work of democratic transformation. It suggests that true democracy requires us to really find one another and be open to each other to engage in the difficult but necessary work of building a shared future.

The artworks in this exhibition have been chosen for the ways in which they actively engage our democracy and include contributions by Igshaan Adams, Dineo Seshee Bopape, Candice Breitz, Wim Botha, Bronwyn Katz, Sabelo Mlangeni, Walter Meyer, Gugulective, the Keiskamma Art Project, and many others.

We, the People: 30 Years of Democracy in South Africa
Thabiso Sekgala, from the Born free series
We, the People: 30 Years of Democracy in South Africa
Andrew Esiebo, A Tyre Never Dies 2022