Phoka Nyokong’s Vibrant Solo Exhibition Unveiled at Absa Gallery

1. Absa Gallery and the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS) present a solo exhibition by award-winning artist Phoka Nyokong, featuring his latest art collection, “Museum of New Hymns for the Confused.”
2. The exhibition explores the politics and poetics of restorative culture by reimagining traditional West African myths and examines the intersection of African heritage with Western disciplines.
3. Partnerships between Absa, IFAS, and SANAVA highlight their commitment to supporting and nurturing talent in South African visual arts, providing inspiration for aspiring artists.

Absa Gallery, in collaboration with the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS), is proud to present a solo exhibition by the 2019 Absa L’Atelier Gerard Sekoto award winner, Phoka Nyokong. The exhibition features Nyokong’s latest art collection, “Museum of New Hymns for the Confused,” created during his 2022 residency at NIROX. This collection builds upon his ongoing series, Ethnology for Genocide: The History Paintings, which explores the violent intertwining of African cultural heritage with Western anthropology, ethnology, museology, religion, and psychology.

A multi-talented artist, curator, writer, and researcher, Nyokong’s art practice spans a variety of genres, including performance, sound/video and installation, photography, storytelling, curating, writing, drawing, and painting. Since his first exhibition in 2013, Nyokong has showcased his work at various public institutions, art fairs, and galleries, with his most recent group show being “Black Luminosity” at Smac Gallery in Stellenbosch.

In this exhibition, Nyokong invites viewers to explore the politics and poetics of restorative culture by reimagining traditional West African myths. Sophie Boulé, Cultural Attaché and Deputy Director of IFAS, expressed her delight at witnessing the growth of arts and culture in South Africa, attributing it to the partnerships between Absa, SANAVA, and IFAS. She further praised Nyokong’s exceptional journey since winning the 2019 Gerard Sekoto Award, predicting a bright future for the talented artist.

Dr. Paul Bayliss, Senior Specialist: Art and Museum Curator at Absa Group, echoed Boulé’s sentiments, emphasizing the importance of supporting young artists like Nyokong in building their legacies. Since receiving the L’Atelier award, Nyokong has been sharing advice with emerging artists, emphasizing the value of humility, dedication, and sacrifice in achieving success.

The collaboration between Absa, IFAS, and SANAVA in hosting exhibitions like Nyokong’s “Museum of New Hymns for the Confused” showcases their commitment to fostering talent in South African visual arts, providing hope and inspiration to aspiring artists across the country.