Debut Exhibition by Nyakallo Maleke
Curated by Boitumelo Makousu

Bag Factory Artists’ Studios is delighted to present the debut exhibition of our
studio artist Nyakallo Maleke entitled Making Sense of The Same Story.

30 November 2023 - 12 February 2024

Draw, doodle and put anything on paper without overthinking? Do you recall the liberating feeling
you got from creating, experimenting and making mistakes in that process, because somehow it
would make sense as a child? As you grow older the intuitive act of drawing becomes a daunting
process as you navigate through other forms of expression. Let’s revisit the act of drawing without the anxiety of the weight of a mark on paper.

Ready? Go!

Making sense of the same story is Nyakallo Maleke's debut exhibition in Johannesburg. The display is deeply rooted in restoring the fundamentals of drawing as a n expressive form of communication that transcends language barriers across a physical and a fictional space. The
exhibition seeks to steer the audience into multi-layered fragments that navigate the processes for how to make a drawing. Drawing functions as an alternative approach for understanding, processing and conveying information. Guided through the lens of abstract expressionism and
materiality, the exhibition space facilitates the audience to map out an intricate and interactive encounter that connects the practice of drawing to a personal, social and collective experience navigated through space, and - movements.

In its undiluted form, Maleke's work fearlessly communicates vulnerability through the transformative language of materials, emotions and actions. The exhibition encourages individuals to articulate their ideas, emotions, and observations through drawing, mark marking, reading and play as a powerful
means towards self-discovery and connection with the world.

The actions of mark-making that are manifested in Maleke's work opens up a layer, which demonstrates the artist’s willingness to investigate a concept and the physical act of using for example, a pencil, charcoal, paintbrush, needle and more. Each stroke, each line, each splash of colour corresponds with the artist's innermost feelings rather than conforming to predefined forms. It becomes a celebration of the raw and authentic connection between the artist and the canvas, a
dialogue between the hand and the heart demonstrates to the artist's willingness to experiment with techniques, using vivid yet arbitrary colours, reshaping forms, and defying conventional three-
dimensional perspectives.

This exhibition invites the viewer to delve into the layered spheres that are connected to intuition, mapping, improvisation, translation and serendipity. It encourages us to embrace the unpredictability and uncertainty of the creative process, the moments of discovery that emerge through spontaneity and chance.

Maleke's work challenges us to step outside our comfort zones by bridging the gap between information and allowing ourselves to restore the intuitive acts of drawing, painting and mark making. A provocation of thought, emotion, a space for contemplation is created in Maleke's work of which through activations connects us more deeply with self and also strengthens our shared human
experience.

So, how did your drawing go?

Nyakallo Maleke is an artist and writer based in Johannesburg. Her practice is grounded on an
expanded concept of drawing, which she uses as a tool for building narratives related to space,
vulnerability, mapping and fiction in relation to the public space. Maleke's drawings take shape across
disciplines, manifesting in the form of installations, performative gestures, sound pieces, printmaking
and sculpture. Her work continues to be invested in materiality, often combining tools such as pencils
and charcoal with a meticulous embroidery-like stitching that is depicted on unconventional surfaces
such as wax paper and plastic dropsheet.

Maleke completed a Master of Art in Public Sphere (with distinction) at the École de design et haute
école d’art du Valais (édhéa), Switzerland (2019). Her practice based research considers drawing as
writing and writing as drawing to speak back to vulnerability and movement in the public space.
She is an alumnus of the Asiko International Art School, Addis Ababa edition (2016) and graduated
with BA Fine Art from Wits University in 2015. She has participated in group exhibitions at venues
including NGO – Nothing Gets Organised, Johannesburg; Stevenson, Cape Town; Modzi Art Gallery,
Lusaka, and the 13th Dak'art Biennale, Dakar, Senegal, in which she participated in the exhibition
Canine Wisdom for the Barking Dog-The Dog Done Gone Deaf. Her first solo exhibition, titled Leaning
Towards an Edge that Does Not Leak was held at the John Muafangego Art Centre in Windhoek,
Namibia, in 2016. Maleke is also recognised as a fiction writer, and was recently shortlisted for the
inaugural Toyin Falola Prize for her short story titled Eskia. In 2022 she participated in the Aichi
Triennial in Aichi, Japan and the exhibition Echo, at Jenkins Johnson, USA. Maleke participated in the
project titled Commonplaces, a commissioned project by INSITE Journal.

Boitumelo Makousu is a versatile force seamlessly blending the roles of Independent Curator,
Art Education Facilitator, and Cultural Custodian.Makousu has acquired a BA Honours in
Tourism Management, Postgraduate Certificate in Archives and Records Management, and a
BA in Cultural and Heritage Tourism Management from NWU.
Her professional footprint has been with the following organizations NWU Gallery, Javett-UP Art
Centre, Latitudes Online, Jomba! Contemporary Dance Experience, Ms Simone Art & Design,
Creative Feel, Art Times, Kano Creative Agency, Keep The Dream Arts, and The Bag Factory
Artist’s Studios.
At the core of Makousu's portfolio lies a profound commitment to the art of curation, where she
seamlessly blends research, exhibition-making, and innovative cultural and creative trails.
Her work not only encourages the development of visitation and audience engagement but also
the archival practices that safeguard our heritage and cultural trails for future generations.
Makousu's curated exhibitions are a testament to her dedication to storytelling through art. In
2021, she co-curated "The Enigmatic Pursuit" at NWU Gallery. Additionally, her solo curation "O
mang, O tswa kae, O ya kae|| My Cradle, My Story, My Heritage" at Latitudes Online
CuratorLab 2021.
The year 2022 Makousu curated "Do Not Trust The Borders," a solo exhibition by Wezile
Harmans at The Bag Factory. Further, she co-curated "Unsettling the Single Society" at NWU
Gallery.
In 2023, Makousu expanded her curatorial reach, taking her exhibition "O mang, O tswa kae, O
ya kae" to the Constitutional Hill of South Africa. This monumental showcase exemplifies her
ambition to bring art to the public sphere, transcending traditional gallery spaces.
Makousu's impact extends beyond physical spaces, as evidenced by the immersive 3D tours
accompanying her exhibitions. These virtual experiences, such as the ones for NWU Gallery
and Constitutional Hill, exemplify her commitment to making art accessible to a global audience.
Her journey unfolds as a narrative of connecting diverse voices, preservation and archiving
of cultural heritage, and inviting audiences to explore the intricate threads of our shared human
experience through the lens of art.