Dada Khanyisa’s first solo exhibition in Johannesburg, “Good Feelings”, opened on February 1, 2020.
The works in this exhibition explore human lifestyle and communal living, rendering the subjects in active interaction with their environment, rather than just portraying a basic figurative image. These sculpted figures created in vibrant and vivid colours show people in confrontations, taking showers, taking selfies, sending voice notes, and seated at upscale restaurants. In works where a character is absent, environments such as lounges, kitchens and bedrooms present an extension of human living.
The multidimensionality of the artist’s paintings has expanded significantly in the use of textures, materials and finishes. The exhibition includes sketches in lieu of the scripted or multimedia elements previously used by the artist. Throughout the show, works will be rearranged in alignment with their relational nature.
Dada Khanyisa was born in 1991 in Umzimkhulu, KwaZulu-Natal. In 2016 they completed a BAFA at the Michaelis School of Fine Art, University of Cape Town.
“Good Feelings” is on view at Stevenson, Johannesburg until March 13, 2020.