223 Jan Smuts Avenue
Rosebank
Johannesburg
First Thursdays
17:00 - 21:00
Visit Website
223 Jans Smuts Creative Hub does not only house two prestigious art galleries but also an open art space where local designer brands like Romaria Knitwear and Something Good Studios have their luxury fashion and textile items on show. Framing@223 and our furniture showroom including Magicode, sales partner of USM Modular Furniture, also offer top of the range products and services.
A creative hub where artists, enthusiasts, mentors, collectors, creators, explorers, visionaries and artisans converge, located in the dynamic heart of Joburg. 223 provides a literal and metaphysical space for the local art collective, endeavouring to foster new connections and further growth, innovation and collaboration, while upholding the highest standards of art and artistry.
Daneel Thumbiran is a multidisciplinary South African Indian artist. He will be guiding visitors through a collaborative art experience that mimics his art style.
His body of work began with a personal question: why do people seek God and help from higher planes of existence, instead of looking within themselves and their surroundings? Conceptually, through his exploration of the Bhagavad Gita, Daneel finds himself continuously drawn to Krishna as a character. Krishna, a Hindu god believed to be the Supreme Being, has 108 names that reference his various characteristics, and Daneel is particularly interested in the multiple contextualizations of these names. In his work, Daneel identifies everyday individuals who visually connect with Krishna's different names. He believes that aspects of his work can resonate with any individual.
Using photography as a tool to capture time and document the people that make up contemporary South Africa, he merges these images into movie posters of Krishna. This process allows him to reimagine, understand, and question the environments around him. By representing the people in his surroundings as Krishna or as a god-like figure, he challenges how we, as South African citizens, view ourselves, our narratives, and our range of agency in contemporary society. However, his intention is not to push the ideology of Krishna onto people, but rather to invite critical self-reflection.
Interactive artist engagement throughout the evening.
