Shenaz Mahomed
Shenaz Mahomed (b. 1992) is a Pretoria based curator and artist. She obtained both her BA
(2014) and MA degree (2019) in Fine Arts at the University of Pretoria. She was the Curator at
Fried Contemporary Art Gallery for 4 years. She has successfully independently curated a
series of three group shows there titled ‘Young Collectors’in 2015, 2016 and 2017.
Mahomed was the Curatorial Assistant and Logistics Manager at the Javett Art Centre at UP
for 2.5 years (2018 - 2021). She is currently a lecturer in the Visual Arts Department at the
University of Pretoria and is registered for her PhD in Digital Culture and Media. Her research
project entails exploring online platforms as sites for exhibition and implementation of
alternative curatorial strategies.
Mahomed has participated in a number of prestigious art competitions in South Africa. She
has been awarded as the winner of the 2016 David Koloane Mentorship Award with the Bag
Factory and has had works exhibited with them at the 2016 FNB Joburg Art Fair. She has also
exhibited at the 2017 Nirox Winter Sculpture Fair. Mahomed has participated in group shows
at the Aardklop National Arts Festival in 2017 and 2018. She has also been part of the Klein
Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees (2017 and 2021), Innibos Art Festival (2017) and National Arts
Festival (2018). In April 2019, Mahomed was invited on a 3 week artist residency at the Mas
Des Graviers vineyard (South of France).
Mahomed’s work can be found in the art collections of ABSA, University of Pretoria,
Department of Arts and Culture, Tiwani Contemporary (UK) as well the private collections of
Wayne Barker, Gavin Rajah, Diane Victor, Harrie Siertsema, Raimi Gbadamosi and Vusi
Beauchamp.
Artist statement:
My practice involves a reflective reading of traditional Islamic visuals forms of art and written
text as a means to communicate present-day encounters. I aim to interrogate my daily
practice of religion and ritual by mapping relations and traces of my actions into art objects.
Taking into account our current global crisis and navigating a life during a pandemic, for this
exhibition, the works focus on ideas of precaution and lessons to be learnt from history. The
works interplay challenges faced in the past and present. I specifically chose to work with
history books from my childhood to hint at an innocence and naivety in how we view history
and how we handle a repeat of it.
The works also highlight how we gamble situations with the limited knowledge we have - the
cut outs are strategically placed to reveal, conceal and distort our understanding and view
of certain topics.
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