Our team had the pleasure to attend the exhibition “eclipse” held by the Galeri Artismagna in collaboration with Undiscovered Canvas.

“Eclipse ” is a duo exhibition which regroups the masterpieces of two promising south Africans artists: Nene Mahlangu and Luluma ‘Wolf’ Mlambo. It’s curated by Nomanza Nongquanga Coupez, Rodrigues Naucelles and Emmanuel de Boissel

Undiscovered Canvas

Founded in 2017 by Nomaza Nongqunga, Undiscovered Canvas highlights emerging talents from the African continent which are ambitious, innovative and able to conceptualize their artistic ideologies in order to share them with us. Undiscovered Canvas is the bridge between the West and the African art scene and shows us that it’s a real investment for the future.

Nene Mahlangu

Nene grew up in a Christian family where faith holds a large place on a daily basis. That is why in a cathartic impulse; she chooses to work around the Seven deadly sins. She humanizes fears, taboos and artistically reveals what we all can be at some point in our lives. Perhaps not in public but hidden in intimacy. Also this is why the hat present on all her work, although inspired by Balenciaga figurehead of haute couture, is also inspired by an emblematic character “Lady Justice” who didn’t stop on the appearance to judge but saw people for what they were inside.

Nene works her paintings down to the smallest detail with acrylics and bright colors to contrast with the subject, which is intended to be deeper. She wanted to play it down.

Simple, solar and committed Nene Mahlangu is undoubtedly one of the rising figures of African art combining contemporary influences from the greatest fashion designers with the spiritual world which has a large part in African art.

Luluma ‘Wolf’ Mlambo

Growing up in a small town, all her childhood Luluma used her imagination to get away from it and was in search of herself. Of her roots. This is why her work explores a pre-colonial Africa, finding inspiration in spiritual and historical forerunners of South African art such as Helen Sebidi and Ernest Mancoba.

Lulama’s characters are curvaceous, flowing and hyper-realistic. They move in an environment of natural colors reminiscent of the deep pigments that were used in vernacular architecture. She also uses patterns created by most women to decorate African homes.

“Wolf” offers us a journey, a “back to basics” in a vehicle which is totally abstract and more contemporary. This contrast creates masterpieces that challenge us and have an organic resonance.

The “Eclipse”

Even if these two artists have two different universes, their similarity is to highlight African society and history.

They both appeal to ancestral subjects whether it’s the pre-colonial way of life for “Wolf” or spiritual beliefs for Nene Mahlangu and expose them with Modernism.

These two artists, who oppose, finally come together for offering to us a beautiful artistic eclipse that you can admire at the Galeri Artismagna in Paris from 17th to 27th November 2022.

Photo credit : Vera Plantaz-Pakhai