Nel Gallery| Dialogue

Willie Bester is one of our most celebrated artists, and specifically known as a key 'protest artist' through the 1980s in the time of Apartheid. Willie and a handful of other artists of colour managed in various unique ways, to break through the apartheid divide, which also existed within the visual arts in that decade. During this time the visual arts proved to be one of the most contested sites of anti-apartheid expression in the country. Willie Bester was a key part of this movement. His constant engagement with issues like inequality, poverty and the lives of ordinary people affected by a brutal system that sought to dehumanise them, persisted throughout the time leading to democracy and continues to this day.

In this body of work, we focussed on his assemblages. Works made from various elements and materials, including painting, the use of objects like disused car parts, things found in scrapyards in townships, and specific texts and pieces of news collected from the media at the time of making the work. He combines detritus in such a way that it forms a narrative and speaks about the human condition as experienced at the edges of society, from the vantage point of the marginalised and the disenfranchised. In a sense, he makes work of the everyday with everyday throw-away materials. The metaphor is embedded and intrinsic to the work.

The works are agitated, there are various focal points to a work and one's eyes never rest when viewing these complex and disturbing artworks. This is intentional. Bester has been quoted as saying his work is like medicine, it can taste awful, but it leads to healing. Indeed, the subject matter and the various issues he looks at are disquieting and tell us of injustices and promises never delivered. Ironically, painted in the bright colours associated with happier emotions. Upon closer inspection, the colours seem more acidic than cheery. Colour and surprising combinations of materials become a language he has perfected. The stories he communicates stand to remind us of where we have come from, where we currently find ourselves and to focus on our humanity. Willie Bester asks us to enter a dialogue with our past, and where we are heading.

This show runs from 26 October 2024 - 23 November 2024. 

Willie Bester is one of South Africa's most celebrated artists, renowned as a key 'protest artist' during the 1980s Apartheid era. Alongside a handful of other artists of colour, Willie broke through the apartheid divide within the visual arts, making the field one of the most contested sites of anti-apartheid expression. His engagement with issues like inequality, poverty, and the lives of ordinary people affected by a brutal system has persisted from the time leading to democracy to the present day.

This body of work focuses on his assemblages, created from various materials, including painting, disused car parts, scrapyard finds, and specific texts and news pieces collected at the time of creation. Willie combines these elements to form narratives that speak to the human condition from the marginalized and disenfranchised perspective. In essence, he transforms everyday throwaway materials into profound artwork, embedding metaphor and meaning within his pieces.

The works are intentionally agitated and complex, with multiple focal points that prevent the viewer's eyes from resting. Willie likens his work to medicine—it may taste awful, but it leads to healing. The subject matter and various issues he addresses are disquieting and highlight injustices and unfulfilled promises. Despite being painted in bright colors typically associated with happiness, the colors reveal a more acidic and unsettling tone upon closer inspection. Willie's mastery of color and material combinations creates a unique language through which he communicates powerful stories. These stories remind us of our past, our current state, and our humanity. Willie invites us to engage in a dialogue with our history and our future.

This exhibition runs from 26 October 2024 to 23 November 2024.