Celebrating the Riel in Art
For media images and interview requests, please contact: Zikhona Jafta at zjafta@iziko.org.za
Iziko Museums of South Africa, in partnership with the Koena Art institute, launched a visual art educational showcase at the Iziko Learning Centre, Groot Constantia Estate on Thursday, 1 September 2022.
Entitled: “Dans Laat die stof staan”, the exhibition celebrates the Rieldans in art and will be on show to the public for the duration of Heritage Month, until 30 September 2022. The Riel or Rieldans – considered to be one of the oldest indigenous dancing styles in South Africa – originated as a celebratory folkdance with roots in San and Khoe traditions. The movement, postures, and use of objects often tells a story to those watching the dances. The Nama people call it the ǀkhapara.
“Museums are places of creativity, innovation, and discovery – spaces for gathering, celebrating culture, knowledge and storytelling. Iziko remains committed to sharing inclusive narratives representative of the diversity of our country and continent. Partnerships like these create new opportunities to explore, learn and activate our education and heritage offerings,” says Ms Rooksana Omar, CEO, Iziko Museums of South Africa.
The showcase, developed in partnership with the Koena Art Institute, comprises paintings, drawings, and sculptures that express movement and dress, capturing contemporary Khoe culture. The works are the result of history, experiences, indigenous knowledge systems and contemporary topics unique to its people. . Various media and techniques are used in the drawings and paintings to convey movement and mood. Links to school curriculum arts subject areas that investigate indigenous dance (Grade 9 – Dance), indigenous storytelling (Grade 8 – Drama), and indigenous folk songs (Grade 7 – Music), signifies the relevance and value for creative arts learners in the Further Education Training (FET) phase.
Says Koena Art Institute Founder and Director, Lukretia Booysen, “Culture is not static. It is dynamic. It will always evolve but the fabric that ties it together will always remain.
Artists featured in the showcase include:
Anthony Roach who lives in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, holds a BA degree and a Fine Arts Diploma. Anthony uses life experiences and perception of what is happening in society as inspiration. He confronts issues by using colour and tone to define mood in his work.
Marlene Liebenberg is a self-taught sculptor from Tsitsikamma who uses various mediums, ranging from organic resin composite through to natural earthen clay and paper mâché. She plays an active role in the local community, teaching arts and crafts. Her works are intricate and timeless with a true sense of classical antiquity.
Andries Dirks discovered his love for clay as a child whilst playing along the riverbanks around the Riebeek Valley. It was only years later though, that his true talent for sculpting was discovered whilst being incarcerated in Malmesbury prison. After a long journey to pursue his love for art, Andries creates sculptures from a kiln in Riebeek-Kasteel.
Terence Visagie is from the Northern Cape and hopes his artworks inspire others who may feel doubtful of their talent to shine. He highlights the abstract beauty of the composition with visible brush strokes. Terence is an impressionist as his work is inspired by what he feels through colour and paint.
Shamiel Albertyn is a television and film documentary photographer and Director of Photography cameraman based in Cape Town, South Africa. Shamiel has traveled South Africa extensively and captured indigenous communities through his travels. In this public photographic segment, Shamiel shares images that capture indigenous peoples from The Northern Cape who participate and practice the Riel dans.
Dieuwke – Jean Linee is a 27 year old visual artist, originally from Paarl and now residing in Kraaifontein. She works with graphite pencils, oil pastels and acrylic paint and her artwork is expressive and biographical.
Gary Frier (b.1972, Cape Town) and grew up in the then-segregated northern suburb of Kuilsriver in the Western Cape .He gained his qualification as a Graphic Designer at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology in 2004.
‘Dans laat die stof staan, celebrating riel in art’ – an educational visual showcase, forms part of Iziko’s annual in_herit FESTIVAL – a dynamic programme of event activities and Heritage Day celebrations.The exhibition is open daily, 10am until 5pm at the Iziko Learning Centre, Groot Constantia Estate, until 30 September 2022.
Creative art school groups, students, educators and art centres can contact Mr Glynn Alard via email on gallard@iziko.org.za for programme, activities and event information.
The in_herit FESTIVAL, provides visitors the opportunity to explore and experience our museums, our spaces and exhibitions, offering insight into our diverse and dynamic cultural, natural and artistic heritage. The organization offers *free entrance to Iziko Museums on Heritage Day (*excluding the Iziko Planetarium and Digital Dome, as well as museums closed for renovation and repair and those closed on Saturdays).
