Exhibition curators Gary van Wyk and Lisa Brittan lead an exploration of Uluso—“Against the Dark Sky”, featuring examples of beaded costumes and accessories from the Zulu- and Xhosa-speaking peoples of South Africa. The exhibition, which closes on Sunday, September 8, looks at how these outfits reflect traditional beliefs and practices, especially in the face of European colonialism and apartheid, while also subtly changing to accommodate innovation and societal shifts. It also features the vibrant portrait photography of Bobson Sukhdeo Mohanlall, who captured many residents of Durban and the surrounding areas in their best attire. 

Brittan and van Wyk are director and curator, respectively, of Axis Gallery, which at its founding in 1997 was the only U.S. gallery promoting both classical and contemporary African art. Now a project-based institution, Axis organized several groundbreaking, critically acclaimed exhibitions in its original Chelsea location, giving several South African artists their first exposure in New York. Prior to founding Axis, Brittan and van Wyk trained both as artists and art historians in South Africa during the 1980s, and were active in the anti-apartheid Resistance Art Movement.

Free and open to the public. A reception in the Loeb’s atrium follows.

Sponsored by the Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center.