Gallery Mau Mau
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Gallery Mau Mau (1996–1998) was a counter-culture "art space" situated in Cape Town, South Africa. Although short-lived, the experimental space provided low-cost access to the arts for artists of all races, broke boundaries and defined the period in which a visual arts culture saw enormous growth in the city. It was run by cultural activist David Robert Lewis, multimedia artist Adam Lieber, musician and disk jockey Nick Birkby and fine artist Chris Slack.
The gallery launched the careers of some of South Africa's best known young artists: Mustafa Maluka had his very first solo show there, as did Donovon Ward and Julia Clark. Other artists include Barend de Wet, Beezy Bailey, Conner Cullinan and Norman O'Flynn.
[edit] Press comments
"If you manage to find the door with the peeling sign, you'll be able to enter the world of Mau Mau, an underground art movement run by five residential artistic people." Cosmopolitan
"Browse, lurk or hang out. The creative experimental space hosts bizarre cine-art conventions and unusual exhibitions." Cosmopolitan
"Providing sustenance for the culture-hungry masses, a group of aspirant art orginals retain a meeting space for social outcasts that just happens to have art on the walls." SL Magazine.
"Gallery Mau Mau regularly processes short exhibitions with grand openings where all are welcome. It's a vibrant space where the flamboyant understanding of art as entertainment is instituted." SL Magazine.
"The Mau Mau Gallery happily places itself on the fringe of Cape Town's art establishment." Inside SA
"It's a lively exhibition space that holds multimedia shows featuring anything from film clips to photographs and performance art. Djs spin discs on opening nights with occasional rantings from beat poets. It's also the only gallery that offers free cream soda at the bar.Inside SA
"Expect heavy doses of irony and sparks of genius as lanky youths give the art illuminati the finger." Inside SA
"The Mau Mau Gallery is owned by anyone who is an artist. Located below the Lounge on Cape Town's Long Street, it's run by David Robert Lewis, who sees himself as a janitor rather than a curator. Its only limitation is space, otherwise anything that can be justifiably argued as art, gets a show. True to its name, Mau Mau is an act of rebellion, an uprising. In formal, mainstream galleries, artists have their work taken away from them (and the viewer) -- displays are clinical and prices exhorbitant -- but Mau Mau showcases affordible, underground art at street level. Now, even established dealers can be seen hanging around here. They also want to see what's contemporary, cutting edge and desirable." Petra Mason
[edit] External links
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