encounters: MOSHEKWA LANGA HOMELAND

17 July to 23 September 2007

Lower Gallery, Modern Art Oxford

What does ‘home’ mean to a South African artist who now lives in Amsterdam? Homeland, the artist’s first solo exhibition in the UK, presents a series of haunting colour photographs of the interiors of houses in which he grew up in South Africa. Alongside will be a recent film piece, also made in Africa, of people stepping onto a bus in a dusty street. The looped soundtrack to the film is Shirley Bassey’s classic ’Where do I begin?’.

Langa is the first artist to participate in Modern Art Oxford’s new programme, which will include exhibitions, displays, talks, activities and special events - all with the aim of inspiring more people to enjoy and engage with contemporary art. In addition to exhibiting in Modern Art Oxford’s Lower Gallery, Langa will exhibit further photographs from the same series at Rose Hill Primary School between September and November 2007. He will also be discussing his work with pupils at the school. Rose Hill Primary is one of Modern Art Oxford’s partner schools.

Andrew Nairne, Director of Modern Art Oxford, comments:

‘Langa’s photographs and films are compelling mediations on memory, time and place. We are drawn into both imagining the artist’s past life and considering our own stories and feelings about home.

We are delighted that Moshekwa Langa’s outstanding work should launch our new programme strand encounters.

encounters reflects our passionate belief that everybody should have the opportunity to enjoy and engage with the best contemporary art.’

Artist biography
Born in Bakenberg, South Africa in 1975, Langa studied at the Rijksakademie in Amsterdam from 1997-1998. Solo exhibitions by the artist include The Renaissance Society, Chicago and the Centre d’art Contemporain, Geneva. Among major group exhibitions in which he has exhibited, the artist participated in Snap Judgments: New Positions in Contemporary African Photography curated by Okwui Enwezor, New York, 2006. Moshekwa Langa lives and works in Amsterdam.

Artist in Conversation - Thursday 13 September 2007 at 6.30pm
Moshekwa Langa will be in conversation with international curator and writer, Gilane Tawadros.

Also at Modern Art Oxford - Stella Vine: Paintings
Both Moshekwa Langa: Homeland and Stella Vine: Paintings have been curated by Andrew Nairne.

ENDS

For further information please contact Sara Dewsbery, Press and Marketing Officer on 01865 813813, Email sara.dewsbery@modernartoxford.org.uk

encounters is supported by the David Elliott Fund.

Press contact

For further press information and images please contact Sara Dewsbery on 01865 813813.


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