Fireflies and Ashes ultimately proposes that the future is composed in the present: through memory, through artistic production, through acts of empathy, and through the sustained effort of imagining societies that are more equitable, inclusive and humane.
Fireflies and Ashes: Seeds Beneath the Fire
Fireflies and Ashes: Seeds Beneath the Fire brings together eight contemporary African artists whose practices explore memory, inheritance, identity and the continual process of becoming. Opening on 18 July 2026, the exhibition invites viewers to consider how the past is carried into the present, and how the choices we make today shape the world that future generations will inherit.
The exhibition unfolds through three interconnected metaphors. Ash represents the traces of history, lived experience and collective memory that remain long after moments of transformation. Seeds speak of resilience, renewal and unseen potential, reminding us that growth often begins beneath the surface. Fireflies offer moments of quiet illumination, suggesting that meaningful change rarely arrives all at once, but emerges through countless individual acts of imagination, courage and hope.
Each artist approaches these ideas from a distinct perspective, revealing a rich and varied portrait of contemporary Africa. Andrew Ntshabele and Percy Maimela reflect on youth, aspiration and the possibilities of future generations. Samantha Maseko explores womanhood, agency and self-determination, while Morgan Mahape, Steve Maphoso, Gift Dlamini and Asanda Kupa examine identity, belonging and the complexities of societies continually negotiating their past while imagining new futures.
Artyli Gallery is delighted to welcome Trevor Aloka to its stable of represented artists. Based in Uganda, Aloka represented his country at the 61st Venice Biennale and was recently named runner-up in the 2026 Absa L’Atelier Awards, marking him as one of the continent's most exciting emerging voices. The exhibition also introduces Percy Maimela and Gift Dlamini to their first exhibition at Artyli Gallery, whose practices bring important new perspectives to the gallery's programme and further strengthen its commitment to showcasing contemporary African art.
Presented on Mandela Day, the exhibition offers a timely moment to reflect not only on remembrance, but on responsibility. It asks how each generation contributes to the ongoing composition of a more equitable, compassionate and inclusive society.
Ultimately, Fireflies and Ashes: Seeds Beneath the Fire proposes that the future is not something we simply inherit, it is something we create together. Like seeds waiting beneath ash or fireflies illuminating the darkness, these artists remind us that even in uncertain times, hope remains a powerful force for transformation.