refuse the given world

16.05.24 - 08.06.24

Group Exhibition
Kalashnikovv Gallery, Cape Town

Black Koki
Boemo Diale
Cathy Abraham
Charity Vilakazi
Chris Denovan
Conrad Botes
Hedwig Barry
Khaya Sineyile
Khaya Witbooi
Maja Maljević
Nathaniel Shepard III
Nico Athene
Nico Krijno
Roger Ballen
Ronél de Jager
Senzeni Marasela
Simon Moshapo Jnr
Theresa-Anne Mackintosh
Tiago Rodrigues
Tinyiko Makwakwa
Xhanti Zwelendaba
Yolanda Mazwana
Zanele Montle

The gallery and its endeavours have often overlapped Jozi and Cape Town, with many projects, fairs, and collaborations since our launch in Juta Street almost eleven years ago. With some certainty that you have heard the rumours, we are very excited to announce the opening of our Cape Town Kalashnikovv Gallery at 61 Loop Street on 16 May 2024 at 5PM. Opening our new sister space there feels right, setting down roots instead of bustling in and out. Supporting the growing number of Cape Town artists in our program locally, and bringing some of our artists from elsewhere to the city bowl is our aim, and to continue to expand our reach locally and internationally. 

We are so pleased to join many of our contemporaries in the growing art hub, that we can be in walking distance from other galleries, museums, and project spaces. Loop Street Kalashnikovv represents a new era of collaboration, instigation, conceptualisation, activation, and integration. Our little local art world community is one of our biggest strengths and we are so excited to grow our communities and our neural networks.

Throwing ideas around for a concept, or a title, we all pivoted around the same notions of locus, expansion, space, time, place, meaning, and the contemporary moment in the world (a pretty scary and strange one) but also the magic of growth that we have shared with our artists, friends, and family over the past few years that has led to a natural progression to open new space. We think the title refuse the given world is an appropriate one for our inaugural exhibition.

Conceptually refuse the given world group exhibition represents the contemporary moment – a world in turmoil often produces some of the most meaningful art, and the resulting art provides a translation and tool for understanding where we fit into the world. Artists tell stories through their work, stories of the disasters of the moment, of the hopes and dreams that defy realities. Artists dream for us, elucidate the obscured, untangling the knots of complicated narratives so that we not only connect with each other but with ourselves in new ways. 

Starting something is an act of deep faith – this applies to every time an artist raises a hand to materials, a writer stares at a blank page, a curator imagines an exhibition, or the dream of opening a new gallery space. This group exhibition holds something of our past, our present, and our future – intermaterialities and interdisciplinary practices abound.

This move represents so many moments of faith over the last decade. We look forward with great anticipation to join your community in Cape Town, and for you to join ours.