Photos Iwan Baan
First announced in 2013, the ambitious four-year project to convert the historic Grain Silo at the V&A Waterfront into a cutting edge contemporary art museum is officially completed.
The Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa opened its doors to the public during Heritage Weekend, holding a four-day Grand Opening, September 22-25, 2017.
The Museum, a partnership between the V&A Waterfront and Jochen Zeitz, is the first major museum in Africa dedicated to contemporary art from Africa and its Diaspora, and also the first African institution to acknowledge new mediums through the establishment of different centres and institutes within the overall museum.
The establishment of the museum came about through a confluence of factors. The V&A Waterfront recognized the significance of its Grain Silo complex as an historic landmark and for years debated possible uses. An art museum was eventually decided upon but a collection was needed. The desire was to house something of public civic significance, and something open to the public. It was through Ravi Naidoo that Thomas Heatherwick was introduced to the Grain Silo complex in 2006, and again in 2011. At the same time, Jochen Zeitz was working with curator Mark Coetzee to build a world class collection of contemporary art from Africa and its Diaspora with the vision to create the first major museum dedicated to contemporary art from Africa and its Diaspora on the Africa Continent. The meeting of these two visions resulted in the creation of the not-for-profit public institution since named Zeitz MOCAA.
A few of the inaugural and upcoming exhibitions and events include:
Kyle Morland
Now and Then: El Loko / Kyle Morland
Through August 27, 2018
Nicholas Hlobo
Nicholas Hlobo / “iimpundulu zonke ziyandilandela”
Through July 30, 2018
Edson Chagas
Edson Chagas / Luanda, Encyclopedic City
Through January 13, 2018
Kudzanai Chiurai
Kudzanai Chiurai / Regarding the Ease of Others
Through March 31, 2018
Nandipha Mntambo
Nandipha Mntambo
23 November 2013 – 16 February 2014
Liza Lou / Installation view
Lunchtime Tour: Liza Lou / The Waves
October 1, 2018, 1-1:15pm, led by Mark Coetzee
The Access for All program will see visitors under the age of 18 allowed free entrance to the museum all year round, free admission every Wednesday morning for all South Africans and other visitors from the African continent, and half price admission for all on Late Night Fridays. The Museum is removing financial barriers to entry for those who may not have the resources to visit otherwise.
