Navel Seakemala –
REFLECT

05.06.21 – 30.06.21
Solo Exhibition at
Kalashnikovv Gallery,
Johannesburg

Navel Seakamela (b. 1991 - Soshanguve, Pretoria, RSA) received his Diploma in Visual Arts at the Tshwane University of Technology in 2015, Pretoria. He currently lives and works between August House and Tembisa, Johannesburg. From 2007 - 2010 he practiced fine art full time at the Tembisa Art Centre before studying Fine and Applied Art at the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT).

Seakamela’s work at present is the investigation into the constant push and pull between consumer society, identity and gender norms; questioning and focusing on notions of blackness, the disenfranchised and marginalized in current South African society. In his constant and unwavering attempts to understand himself through his reflective practice, ironically enough it has been through phases of complete isolation that he has begun to truly find and form a sense of self, both aesthetically and conceptually.

Seakamela’s accolades include being a finalist for the Thami Mnyele and PPC art competition in 2014 and 2015 respectively. Apprenticing under Angus Taylor at Dionysus Sculpture Works in 2017, he went on to participate in the ‘Tactic’ group exhibition at North West University Gallery in Potchefstroom and created a commissioned work for the Absa Cape Epic in 2018.

His most recent exhibitions include the group exhibitions ‘Kafi’ at the Tshwane University of Technology Gallery in Pretoria and ‘Divided Self’ Group Exhibition at P72 Projects in Johannesburg, and now his debut solo exhibition ‘Reflect’ at Kalashnikovv Gallery in Braamfontein in 2021 as well as ‘Inner Space‘ at Nel Gallery in Cape Town. He has also recently participated in the Kopanong Art Residency Program in collaboration with Azael Langa and Mpho Nkadimeng..