Zeitz MOCAA is pleased to announce British actress Gugulethu Sophia Mbatha-Raw MBE, South African media businesswoman Carol Bouwer and the museum’s Executive Director & Chief Curator Koyo Kouoh as the Co-Chairs of the 2022 Zeitz MOCAA Gala. Mbatha-Raw is best-known for her performance of Dido Elizabeth Belle in Amma Asante’s Belle (2013), which earned her a British Independent Film Award for Best Actress and a nomination for Most Promising Newcomer as well as a nomination for a Satellite Award for Best Actress.
Bouwer has long been an influential figure in the South African media, business and mentoring sectors, the latter of which includes her role as the Special Advocate for UNICEF South Africa’s Influential Women’s Forum.
On Saturday, 19 November, notable figures from the art, fashion, social and entertainment industries will celebrate contemporary art from Africa and its diaspora at the special event, aptly themed Art & Opulence. Supported by the museum’s longstanding partner Gucci, the Gala is a precursor to the upcoming survey exhibition titled When We See Us: A Century of Black Figuration in Painting. Set to open to the public on Sunday, 20 November, the exhibition is an exploration of self-representation that celebrates global Black Subjectivity and Black Consciousness from pan-African and pan-diasporic perspectives and is supported by a year-long programme that includes a webinar series in collaboration with the Institute for Humanities in Africa (HUMA) at the University of Cape Town (UCT).
“Spurred by a renewed vision that includes highlighting the myriad forms and aesthetics produced by artists from Africa and its diaspora, this show, alongside the many others we have exhibited over the last three years, reveal the knowledge systems that analyse and project the human experience from trans-geographic territories of Africanity,” says Kouoh. “This year’s Gala celebrates both what we as a museum have achieved during this time and what we aim to accomplish in the future.”
Adds Bouwer: “I am honoured by the opportunity to stand side-by-side with both Gugu Mbatha-Raw as well as Koyo Kouoh and her excellent team as they deliver a legacy-building and memorable celebration. The Zeitz MOCAA 2022 Gala marks a powerful moment in the museum’s outstanding trajectory, one that celebrates the rich and plural visual cultures that can be found on our continent and beyond.”
The Benefit Committee and Honoured Guests
This year’s Gala Benefit Committee includes Bloomberg Philanthropies alongside notable figures from the art, architecture and business sectors. The Benefit Committee supports the event and museum in various ways, including attending and promoting the event. Joining Bloomberg Philanthropies are architect Thomas Heatherwick, the visionary behind the reimagination of the grain silo building into Zeitz MOCAA; Director at Art Joburg, Mandla Sibeko; art collector Pulane Kingston; Tokini Peterside, the founder of ArtXLagos; Touria El Glaoui, founder of 1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair; and Acha Leke, senior partner at McKinsey & Company and the Chairperson of Zeitz MOCAA’s Global Council.
Kouoh and the Zeitz MOCAA team will furthermore honour three figures who continue to play integral roles in the museum’s journey.
Honouree Julie Mehretu is a world-renowned painter who explores palimpsests of history in her paintings, prints and drawings that engage audiences in a dynamic visual articulation of contemporary experience. Mehretu’s work has been showcased at Zeitz MOCAA previously and the artist also sits on the museum’s Global Council. As an integral part of the museum’s journey, she will be honoured for her extraordinary practise and exemplary commitment and investment to providing and supporting spaces for freedom and creative production.
Dr Walter O. and Mrs Linda J. Evans and Jorge M. and Darlene Pérez will also receive tributes at the event in recognition of their support of When We See Us: A Century of Black Figuration in Painting. Dr Walter O. and Mrs Linda J. Evans have made a life-long commitment to preserve and illuminate the work of African-American artists. Dr Evans has been collecting African-American paintings, sculptures, photographs and prints since the late 1970s, many of which form the foundation of the Evans Collection, which was gifted to the SCAD Museum of Art in 2005. Jorge M. Pérez is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Related Group and has led South Florida’s complex urban evolution for more than 40 years. A lover of art and an avid collector, Pérez ensures each Related development has museum-quality works of art proudly displayed to complement each building’s unique character and often serving as prominent community landmarks.
Carefully curated by celebrity chef Reuben Riffel, Gala Dinner guests will be treated to a three-course menu after being entranced by singer-songwriter and pianist Deslynn Molatana on arrival. The Dinner will furthermore be emceed by popular media personality, model and public speaker Jo-Ann Strauss while the Gala Party entertainment line-up includes DJ Stunna, NV Funk and headliner DJ Zinhle, with Expresso presenter and radio personality Thabiso Makhubela as emcee.
The Zeitz MOCAA Gala is the museum’s largest development event of the year and its proceeds yield approximately 30% of the museum’s annual exhibitions and education budget. The event is essential to the institution’s mission of promoting art education and community engagement, and is further supported by the V&A Waterfront, Radisson Hotel Group, the Mail & Guardian, YourLuxury Africa and Hidden Valley Wines, with BMW South Africa as the official vehicle partner.
The Zeitz MOCAA Gala Dinner + Party, supported by Gucci and themed Art & Opulence, takes place on Saturday, 19 November 2022. For more information on the Gala and to purchase tickets, visit zeitzmocaa.museum or click here.
When We See Us: A Century of Black Figuration in Painting and the accompanying publication have been made possibly through the generous support of presenting sponsor, Gucci. All proceeds from the annual fundraising event go towards supporting curatorial research and education programming at Zeitz MOCAA.
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