Almost three decades into democracy and as the country prepares for the 2024 general elections, the Javett Art Centre at the University of Pretoria (Javett-UP) is running an exhibition titled Great Expectations, which considers the expectations and aspirations for a free and equal South Africa.

Identity, society, the built environment and the spirit of the times are all themes that are addressed in the chosen artworks. The rich tapestry of experiences, aspirations and difficulties that shaped South Africa during its post-apartheid era is brilliantly captured in their works.

The exhibition was curated by Nonto Msomi, who selected a number of pieces from the Contemporary Art Collection of the Art Bank of South Africa, where she is a project manager. The exhibition includes pieces by several well-known local contemporary artists such as Banele Khoza, Lithemba Mpambani, Luyanda Zindela, Khulekani Mkhize, Mellaney Roberts, Mothobi Mefane and Palesa Motsomi.

The selected artworks cut across issues of identity, society, the built environment and the spirit of the times.

“The artworks selected for the Great Expectations exhibition are curated with the thought of making meaning with one’s life within the South African social, physical and personal landscape,” Msomi told Eyewitness News. “Essentially, the works are curated to convey that hope, joy and beauty can be found no matter how nihilistic and absurd the world may seem."

The Art Bank of South Africa, which is a national programme of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, forms part of the Mzansi Golden Economy strategy implementation. Through the leasing and sale of artworks to South African government departments, private businesses and private individuals, its mission is to promote, foster and create a vibrant market for the collection of South African modern visual art.

“Our partnership with the Art Bank of South Africa is anchored in our firm belief in investing in artists and their production of new work to contribute to the sustainability of the sector in South Africa, including the sector's social impact value,” Javett-UP CEO Lekgetho Makola said. “As we marked Heritage Day, the Great Expectations exhibition led us into a period within which Javett-UP will be reflecting on the 30 years of our democracy through compelling collaborative curatorial activations, where the activities of writers, researchers, advocacy groups, historians, political scientists, musicians and more can intersect.”

Great Expectations will be on view at Javett-UP until February 2024. To book a viewing, email [email protected] or call 012 420 3960. Admission times: 10am to 5pm from Tuesday to Sunday; last admissions are at 4pm.