Beyond Oil and Canvas: Iziko’s Matereality V2 Turns Everyday Materials into Continental Masterpieces

For media images and interview requests, please contact: Zikhona Jafta at mediaofficer@iziko.org.za CAPE TOWN – Iziko Museums of South Africa officially unveils Matereality V2, a major ten-month exhibition opening at the Iziko South African National Gallery on 21 August 2026. Bringing together over 70 creators and more than 100 works spanning 5 rooms, the exhibition gives readers and visitors a vivid sense of the sheer size, breadth, and depth of contemporary African practice. Across generations and regions, these artists transform physical materials into profound political, social, and cultural statements. The exhibition title, a deliberate play on materiality and reality, reflects a core curatorial truth: in contemporary African practice, a choice of medium is never passive. Building on its acclaimed 2020 iteration, which was heavily disrupted by global COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns, Matereality V2 gives this crucial artistic movement the expansive, public stage it was previously denied. Rather than relying on traditional fine art mediums, participating artists turn both ordinary and industrial elements into dynamic visual languages. Works on display incorporate materials ranging from soil, concrete, roof paint, and timber to sugar, felt, sequins, wire, and salvaged consumer goods. Through these mediums, creators dismantle historic artistic hierarchies to address urgent themes of identity, land, memory, ecology, and lived experience. The exhibition features leading continental voices and celebrated international figures, including Athi-Patra Ruga, Elias Sime, Abdoulaye Konaté, Lungisa Gqunta, Chris Soal, and Walter Oltmann, alongside a dynamic cohort of mid-career and emerging creators. Matereality V2 will run from 21 August 2026 through June 2027. Iziko Museums will support the ten-month exhibition with an extensive public programme, including curator-led walkthroughs, artist panels, and educational workshops. Visit www.iziko.org.za for ticketing, gallery hours, and exhibition details. Stay updated on upcoming news and events by subscribing to the Iziko Newsletter.