01/09/2026
What a joy to see Iziko Museum’s latest, spectacularly curated art exhibition on at the Company Gardens this weekend. Working to the title of MateReality V2 (following on the original which didn’t get enough airtime due to the Covid pandemic), the show celebrates the unexpected or non-traditional materials not usually associated with fine art. Think clay, pipe, yarn, resin, sugar - I was most surprised to see a sadly omnipresent security gate, reminding us of our constant exposure to these panels in our lives.
Attending Saturday morning’s curator-led walkthrough, I learned and loved the stories shared by some of the contributing artists. My highlights include Rosie Mudge’s story of growing up on a farm, using automotive paint in her practice, and the parallels and differences with using a more feminine medium of nail polish. Michaela Young’s felted table artwork, and the critical role it played in mourning the loss of her friend. Georgia Munnik’s striking sculptures, mile high on my wish list, and Sepideh Mehrabah’s rich practice, largely founded on her Iranian heritage.
Beyond the art I was struck by the beautiful condition of the building, and the perfect colour choices selected to complement the artworks.
The ten month show runs until June 2027, do yourself a favour and view it in person and take kids to be amazed to see these unexpected materials used so beautifully. It features work by emerging and internationally recognised artists from the African continent.
Thank you for arranging this wonderfully special morning Andrea Lewis
