Pushing Barriers Together, Visual Art
Venue: Oldies/Old 65
Open until 6 July
Interview
By Aphiwe Ngowapi
Held at Oldies in New Street, a bar, the Punching Barriers Together exhibition, curated by Thrive Afrika (TA), features the work of 20 African storytellers from 12 countries. These storytellers connect with their communities and work with social movements to share their experiences from their viewpoints.
“It is important that we tell our stories our own way,” said Wilson Chivhanga, the founder of Thrive Afrika. Thrive Afrika helps African brands grow and share their stories through planning and storytelling.
“Punching Barriers Together,” by Thrive Afrika and Trust Africa, is part of the 3rd African Social Movements Baraza. It uses photos and stories to show how Africans face unfair systems and demonstrate strength, highlighting challenges like protests, refugees, LGBTQIA+ mistreatment, child labour, and environmental issues. These stories connect politics, money, and climate change to people’s lives, celebrating those who resist and survive.
“Our stories as Africans are the same, our lived realities and struggles are the same,” said Chivhanga.
The exhibition shares stories of human rights defenders, waste collectors, activists, and artists to reveal today’s hard truths. It encourages collaboration for a fair, respectful Africa.
“In South Africa, we’re usually so closed or oblivious to how our African people live. We’re fortunate to live in such a safe, war-free country,” says Zanele Lebaka-Tshabalala, one of the storytellers exhibiting.
The exhibition also incorporates augmented reality, allowing viewers to delve into the story behind each image and discover new ways of storytelling through advanced technology. To experience this, viewers should download the Artivive app from the Play Store and scan the image with an Artivive logo, and the video behind the image will play.
TA fosters collaboration across borders, leading to the creation of Afrotellers, a network of storytellers throughout Africa. This group facilitates the sharing of opportunities, including collaborative projects and discussions on shaping African narratives. To join the WhatsApp group, visit Oldies to scan the QR code.
