April 05, 2025 - May 05, 2025
The Viewing Room Art Gallery
Monna ke Nku/A Man is a Sheep…
Curatorial Statement
When you think of a sheep, which phrases, proverbs or idioms come to mind? It can be said that there are numerous ways to interpret the title of the exhibition. What is also true is that the male figure has been conditioned to keep things that bother him to himself because speaking about them or crying about them is a sign of weakness. In Sepedi, there is an idiom that goes “monna ke nku, o llela teng”, which can be loosely translated to “a man is a sheep, he cries silently”. This exhibition focuses on the complexities of manhood or masculinity and the roles men play in the lives of those around them. The themes that the exhibition touches on include but are not limited to male fragility and vulnerability, toxic masculinity, misandry, mythology, love and relationships, fatherhood, religion, politics to name but a few. It seeks to encourage men to voice out their emotions because silence can be a deadly weapon that could potentially harm the man himself and/or their loved ones.
The curator deliberately omitted the second part of the idiom to make it as open-ended as possible. The reason behind omission lies in the fact that sheep are very complex animals, known for their meat, wool; and for being social. With that said, one can think of a sheep as potentially a provider (meat) and protector/one who brings warmth (wool). Furthermore, men are generally social, especially in spaces where they are appreciated. Despite the title, the exhibition is not limited to issues faced by men, but also issues faced by artists in general. The sheep can also be a metaphor for the depressed, censored or overlooked artist, thus the black sheep.