The Javett-UP Art Centre opened its doors in September 2019. Despite the challenges faced by the arts industry during the global pandemic, the Javett Centre has cemented itself as a cultural hub in the heart of Pretoria. Their African art collections are a sight to behold, as are the many temporary exhibitions hosted at the gallery. If you haven't visited the centre yet, what are you waiting for? Read on to find out what's on at the Javett-UP Art Centre this spring:
Art For All
Art galleries have been exclusive, and exclusionary, spaces for far too long. The Javett-UP Art Centre endeavors to break the traditional boundaries of the gallery by inviting people of all backgrounds to visit the centre. In collaboration with the University of Pretoria, the Javett Centre aims to both foreground African art and make it accessible to one and all. The centre's permanent exhibitions achieve this aim by bringing the art of Africa to an engaging public space situated in the centre of the country's capital city.
The three permanent collections include the Javett Foundation’s collection of 20th century South African art, the AngloGold Ashanti Collection and the Mapungubwe Gold Collection - an archaeological collection which is historically and culturally important for South Africa, the southern African region and the world. Visit the centre as soon as you can to soak up a good dose of culture and heritage. We can't think of a better way to celebrate Heritage Month than by learning more about Africa's diverse art history. Follow the Javett-UP Art Centre on Facebook to stay up to date with upcoming Heritage Day events and exhibitions.
Past and Present Meet at Javett-UP
The centre is currently exhibiting two fascinating collections. 'Yakhal' Inkomo' and 'Scenorama' will be shown until early 2023, but we highly recommend booking a tour to the gallery as soon as you can.'Yakhal' Inkomo' celebrates South African struggle artists, theatre makers, and musicians through a collection of multimedia artworks and installations. A reflection on oppression, censorship, grief and displacement, this exhibition is an absolute must-see. You needn't be an art fundi to appreciate the gravitas and relevance of this collection. The Javett Centre hosts regular guided walkabouts with participating artists, so be sure to look out for information about the next tour on their social media pages.
'Scenorama' is a living, breathing exhibition. The collection combines the words 'scene' and 'panorama' to present a viewpoint of shared networks of experiences, belief and knowledge systems across Africa and the Diaspora. The exhibition opened in May 2022 and will continue to expand and shift until March next year. This exciting curatorial project brings together a number of artists to interrogate the African experience through extensive research and artistic experimentation. We are super excited to see how this collection grows over the coming months.
The Javett-UP Art Centre is open from Tuesday to Sunday between 10:00 - 17:00. Last admissions are permitted at 16:00, so make sure to give yourself enough time to explore.
For More Information
You can book tickets to visit the gallery by emailing [email protected]. Ticket prices and booking information is also available on the centre's website.
Details: University of Pretoria Hatfield campus, 23 Lynnwood Rd, Elandspoort, Pretoria | Tel: +27 (0)12 420 3960.
