ARTdacity

Cape Town is alive with the electric energy of Art Fair season, and we’re right in the heart of the action at Strauss & Co.to explore two extraordinary exhibitions that bookend the story of South African art: “Portway to Cohen” and the deeply poignant “Hair Matters.”

I’m joined by art specialist Wilhelm and researcher Kirstie Pietersen to navigate this rich landscape—from the modernist legacy of Douglas Portway and the provocative, identity-driven performances of Steven Cohen, to a pan-African exploration of hair as a crown, a commodity, and a powerful vessel for history. We discuss the works of trailblazers like Tracey Rose, Hank Willis Thomas, and Adebunmi Gbadebo, uncovering how art serves as both a mirror and a catalyst for liberation.

There is a silence in Namibia that speaks louder than words—a vastness that Jo-Ann Strauss describes as a place where one can truly "hear God." In this episode of ARTdacity, we sit down with Namibian-born artist, photographer, and scholar Nicola Brandt to discuss her breathtaking new book, Reducing The Distance Within.

Nicola takes us on a decade-long journey through her homeland, working with the legendary "King of Print," Gerhard Steidl, to birth a project that is as much an academic inquiry as it is a visual soul-searching mission. We delve into the "cosmic lottery" of birth, the complexity of navigating a post-apartheid identity, and the hidden scars left on a landscape often mistaken for empty. From the haunting legacy of eugenics in Rehoboth to the "God complex" of landscape art inspired by the late Santu Mofokeng, this conversation bridges the gap between private and public memory.

You can’t miss Chris Soal—not just because he is frequently the tallest person in the room, but because his work possesses a magnetic, architectural gravity that pulls you in. Ahead of the launch of his new monograph, I sat down with this visionary young artist to trace a career that has rapidly ascended from the "Jozi hustle" to the permanent collections of the Brooklyn Museum and SFMOMA.

Chris has a rare gift for transforming the overlooked—millions of single-use toothpicks, discarded beer bottle caps, and worn sandpaper—into writhing, tactile sculptures that bridge the gap between intuition and intention. In this episode of ARTdacity, we discuss his formative time at the RAW Academy in Dakar, the profound influence of luminaries like Koyo Kouoh and Otobong Nkanga, and his philosophy on "perceptive capacity"—the discipline of finding value in what society has already dismissed.

​​In this deeply personal season milestone, we gather at the Zeitz MOCAA Members Lounge to celebrate more than just a birthday—we are birthing a dream. I am officially launching the Masekhaya Foundation, a name that bridges my worlds: ‘Ma se-’ (my mother’s) and ‘khaya’ (home).

This episode is a reflection on the roots that sustain us. I share stories of my childhood in Blackheath during the 1980s, the "beautiful crazy" of my mother—my first art teacher—who turned pillowcases into canvases, and the memory of my brother, who I carry with me every day. From an outreach ballet project that gave a seven-year-old girl a stage, to my current mission of dancing on point in 2026, I explore the idea that a dream delayed is never a dream denied. Masekhaya is my way of ensuring that art is no longer just "something that hangs on rich people's walls," but a space where every African child feels they belong.

It feels surreal to be standing at the threshold of Season 3, exactly one year since we launched ARTdacity on Valentine’s Day 2025. This milestone is more than just an anniversary; it’s a beautiful, full-circle moment as we celebrate the official launch of the Masekhaya Foundation—a dream that has come to life through a shared commitment to telling African stories in African voices.

In this season opener, I reflect on the seismic shifts we’re seeing in the global art ecosystem, from the inaugural Art Basel in Doha—a sophisticated blend of art fair and biennale—to our very own upcoming debut at the Investec Cape Town Art Fair. For the first time, ARTdacity moves from the sidelines to the center stage as an exhibitor. Our booth may be just six square meters, but it is a space with the biggest heart, serving as a physical "love letter" to the contemporary African artists and creatives who inspire us every day.

We're basking in the light and optimism of Veuve Clicquot's incredible exhibition, "Emotions of the Sun," showing at the Youngblood Art Gallery until December 21st. I speak with three of the eight phenomenal, world-renowned photographers Christina de Middel, Newsha Tavakolian, and South Africa’s own Lindokuhle Sobekwa - who were given carte blanche to interpret the sun, the ultimate source of light and life, as their muse.

As we close Season 2 of ARTdacity, I’m filled with gratitude for the incredible artists, curators, and listeners who’ve joined this journey -exploring how art shapes who we are and how we see the world. This season has deepened our conversations about creativity, identity, and connection across the continent and beyond.

As we look ahead to Season 3, we’re already planning inspiring new interviews and moments that will continue to celebrate the audacity of art - its power to challenge, heal, and unite. Thank you for listening, for engaging, and for believing in the transformative force of contemporary African art.

In Episode 10 of ARTdacity Season 2, I sit down with Zolani Mahola- celebrated singer, storyteller, and creative force. Her roots in the Eastern Cape have profoundly shaped her artistry and worldview. We explore how her journey, music, and spirituality intertwine to create a deeply authentic expression of art and identity.

In Episode 9 of ARTdacity Season 2, I sit down with the creative collective Half and Halve to unpack their exhibition, Klop Klop, hosted at Under the Aegis - a space founded by Anelisa Mangcu. We explore how identity, collaboration, and art intersect in their bold, thought-provoking practice.

In Episode 8 of ARTdacity Season 2, I sit down with Albie Sachs-freedom fighter, former Constitutional Court judge, and art lover -at his home in Clifton, just before he left for London for The Albies, a global human rights award ceremony. We discuss his exhibition Spring is Rebellious, currently showing at Zeitz MOCAA, and how art has shaped his lifelong pursuit of justice.