Troublemaker: Art is our Only Hope

The DuSable Museum of African American History is pleased to join forces with boyoyoboy! contemporary gallery to present a new exhibition of contemporary art by one of South Africa’s most celebrated talents, artist Ayanda Mabulu (and selected pieces by Khaya Witbooi & Kimathi Mafafo). The exhibition which is entitled,”TROUBLEMAKER: Art is Our Only Hope,” was curated by South African-born Henk Klijn and is presented to coincide with EXPO CHICAGO 2018. This exhibition marks the first time this artist will be shown in the United States.

Artist, Ayanda Mabulu, demonstrates the political reach of the artists’ provocation. Under the license of free expression, the artist reimagines new relationships between living and past figures of power implicating them in various acts of violence or sexually compromised behavior. By evoking scenarios that are not easily conjured up through other mediums, Mabulu’s work represents a contribution to the advancement of protest art and to the role of the artist as activist. According to Mabulu, “we need an evolution through art because we are not achieving our freedom through politics”. The exhibition title, ‘TROUBLEMAKER’ suggests an assessment of current identity politics and the indicators of racism in South Africa. Troublemaker translates, incidentally as the middle-name of Nelson Mandela, in this, the centenary of his birth.