Zimpapers Logo

Four innovative young people say they established an art gallery in Langa township in Cape Town, Western Cape, to make art accessible to the whole community. 

The group says their aim is not only to promote arts in the township but to also develop communities through urban farming.

Known as 16 Lerotholi Art Gallery, the arts space is situated on a popular tourist route.

It was established by Khanyo Ngcukana,27, Mpilo Ngcukana,33, Thulani Fesi,34 and Shaun Williams,38. The doors were opened in 2019 just three months before the Covid-19 outbreak. When everything came to a standstill due to the lockdown, they took the gallery to online platforms and inter-acted with people just to build their presence. It was during this period that the township-based gallery caught the eye of established galleries like the Everard Read Gallery.

Ngcukana, who is very hands on in the running of the gallery says the response to the space has been amazing. “We are happy that we are developing our community through art and urban farming. When we started, we wanted to make this space a community cultural hub and it has been well-received. 

“A lot of school kids spend a lot of time here viewing art pieces and asking questions. While young people and adults come to the coffee shop. So, the space is not only a gallery but a space for people meet others and have conversations. Though some of them have never been inside a gallery when they see a piece of art it is easy to relate,” Ngcukana said. 

“We are situated on historical street of KwaLanga and we get a lot of tourists coming here.  About 150 people visit the gallery daily and that includes tourists and locals.” The gallery that reopened its doors earlier in this year has held three art exhibitions. Currently, 16 Lerotholi Art Gallery has a group exhibition titled Abantu Bethu. It opened on April 24 and will run until May 24.

It features artists like Ricky Dyaloyi, Benjamin Furawo, Phillemon Hlungwani, Teresa Kutala Firmino, Charles Kamangwana, Speelman Mahlangu, Ignatius Mokone, Blessing Ngobeni, Selwyn Pekeur, Atang Tshikare, Chibuike Uzoma, Breeze Yoko, Mongezi Gum, Duke Norman, Restone Maambo, and Daniel ‘Kgomo’ Moro-long. — Sowetan