The exhibition "Holding Isihawu", is the Zulu word for compassion, features artworks of the African contemporary artists:
Holding Isihawu
Inspired by the Zulu word for compassion, Holding Isihawu brings together contemporary African artists whose works explore the depth, strength, and humanity of Black life. In a time marked by global uncertainty, the exhibition affirms art as a space of empathy, connection, and restoration.
Featuring artists Bambo Sibiya, Frans Thoka, Andrew Ntshabele, Asanda Kupa, Steve Maphosa, Siphamandla Ex, and Fumani Maluleke, the exhibition presents diverse visual languages united by themes of identity, resilience, community, and memory. From Sibiya’s empowered portrayals of Black women, to Thoka’s meditations on land and dispossession, to Ntshabele’s layered reflections on childhood and futurity, each artist holds Isihawu—a shield of compassion—through their practice.
Kupa’s communal scenes, Maluleke’s heritage‑rooted landscapes, Maqabuka’s urban‑traditional dualities, Maphosa’s explorations of migration, and Siphamandla Ex’s vibrant celebrations of everyday life further expand this shared narrative.
Guided by the philosophy of Ubuntu — “I am because we are”, the exhibition highlights the continuity of Black experience across South Africa and the diaspora.
As Artyli Gallery participates in American Black History Month, Holding Isihawu acknowledges Black history as a living continuum—activated through creativity, courage, and collective memory.
