My Joburg at la maison rouge shows a range of art from Johannesburg, with particular emphasis on young artists who have yet to come to public attention in France.

Johannesburg or Joburg (affectionately termed Jozi by some) has a population of 6 million. More than 2.5 million people live in Soweto alone, the best-known of the city’s townships. It is, to quote the historian and political scientist Achille Mbembe, an “elusive metropolis”.

Johannesburg has become home to a thriving community of painters, photographers, sculptors and video artists whose work describes a city in the throes of change with a complex social, political and urban history. My joburg sets out to capture certain facets of this. While making no claims to explore every aspect of its art scene, but bringing their curiosity and fresh eyes, Paula Aisemberg and Antoine de Galbert, respectively director and chairman of la maison rouge, have developed the exhibition and its accompanying catalogue in consultation with key figures and specialists in the Johannesburg art scene. They are Nechama Brodie, Dorothee Kreutzfeldt, John Fleetwood, Bettina Malcomess, Molemo Moiloa and Sean O’Toole.

My Joburg will highlight the diversity and wealth of the Johannesburg art scene by showing recent work by more than 40 artists representing the city’s last three generations.

La maison rouge has also invited contributions from several members of the Johannesburg art world. Bettina Malcomess, an independent curator, and artist Dorothee Kreutzfeldt will propose works, echoing their project for an artist’s book, NOT UTOPIA, to be published in April 2013 and presenting a highly personal view of their city.

A room will be reserved for a selection of recent work by photographers who studied at the Market Photo Workshop, a foremost school of photography in Johannesburg which was founded in 1989among others by David Goldblatt and whose current director is John Fleetwood.

Throughout the duration of My Joburg, artists, curators and art critics from Johannesburg will share their experience of their city and describe the art taking place there. A full programme of events (talks, concerts, live performances) will be posted online at

Artists 

Jane Alexander, Wayne Barker, Jodi Bieber, Dineo Seshee Bopape, Willem Boshoff, Candice Breitz, Kudzanai Chiurai, Steven Cohen, Delphine DeBlic, Paul Emmanuel, Kendell Geers, David Goldblatt, Simon Gush, Nicholas Hlobo, Stephen Hobbs, William Kentridge, David Koloane, Dorothee Kreutzfeldt, Donna Kukama, Moshekwa Langa, Lawrence Lemaoana, Winston Luthuli, Zen Marie, Gerhardt Marx, Titus Matiyane, Sabelo Mlangeni, Nandipha Mntambo, Santu Mofokeng, Zanele Muholi, Brett Murray, Marcus Neustetter, Sam Nhlengethwa, Serge Alain Nitegeka, Jo Ractliffe, Robin Rhode, Tracey Rose, Johannes Segogela, Mary Sibande, Mikhael Subotzky and Patrick Waterhouse, Guy Tillim, Andrew Tshabangu, Kemang Wa-Lehulere, Sue Williamson, Billie Zangewa.

Artists from the Market Photo Workshop 

Akhona Kenqu, Mack Magagane, Thabiso Sekgala, Musa Nxumalo, Chris Stamatiou, Matt Kay, Jerry Gaegane, Lebo Kganye, Dahlia Maubane

www.lamaisonrouge.org