SONDELA
by Bophelo Morake, Nhlanhla Ndlopfu, Andiswa Mkosi
1 October, 17h30
FROM THE MOUTH OF A HOUSE
TO THE DUST BENEATH THY FEET
THE NAMES WE WERE GIVEN BEFORE WE KNEW HOW TO ANSWER
TO THEM
WE COME
DRAGGING THE UNFINISHED PRAYERS OF OUR MOTHERS
THE DREAMS OF THOSE WHO SLEEP BENEATH THE EARTH
THE WEIGHT OF BEING CHOSEN
WE COME WITH OUR HANDS FULL
ALL THAT REMEMBERS US
ASKS TO STAY ALIVE THROUGH US
AND WE WONDER HOW MANY LIVES CAN ONE BODY HOLD
HOW MANY DOORS MUST ONE BECOME BEFORE THE HOUSE
RECOGNISES ITS OWN
IN THIS WE GATHER
WE WILL NOT FIND THE BEGINNING
WE WILL NOT BURY THE END
WE WILL SIT BETWEEN
BREATHING CANDLES
AND LISTEN
THIS IS HOW TO STAY
SONDELA
THERE IS A STORY HERE THAT HAS NOT YET LEARNED HOW TO
LEAVE US.
A CALLING IS RARELY A SINGULAR OR SOLITARY EXPERIENCE. IT ARRIVES IN DIFFERENT FORMS, THROUGH THE PEOPLE WE COME FROM, THE HISTORIES WE INHERIT, THE SPIRITS THAT GUIDE US, AND THE RESPONSIBILITIES WE ARE ASKED TO ASSUME. IN THIS, IT IS SOMETHING WE SPEND OUR LIVES DELIBERATING WITH, LEARNING HOW TO ANSWER, RESIST, OR CARRY.
THIS EXHIBITION EMERGES AS A SITE OF GATHERING, A SPACE IN WHICH THESE CALLINGS ARE BROUGHT INTO RELATION. THROUGH THE PRACTICES OF EACH ARTIST, WE ENCOUNTER THE WAYS IN WHICH MEMORY, SPIRITUALITY, IDENTITY, AND INHERITANCE SHAPE OUR UNDERSTANDING OF WHO WE ARE AND WHO WE ARE BECOMING - INVITING US TO CONSIDER THE WAYS WE MAY EACH BE CALLED.
TO GATHER, KUSONDELA.
TO SHARE WITNESS TO THE EXPERIENCES OF THE CALL, ASKING WHAT IT MEANS TO BE CALLED, TO ANSWER AND TO BEAR THE WEIGHT OF WHAT IS LARGER THAN OUR OWN LIVES.
PERHAPS, IN GATHERING, WE BEGIN THE ACT OF DRAWING CLOSER - ALLOWS US THE VOICES THAT HAVE BEEN SPEAKING ALL ALONG TO BE.
ANSWERING A CALLING IS NOT ALWAYS ABOUT KNOWING WHERE WE ARE GOING, BUT ABOUT LEARNING HOW TO REMAIN IN RELATION TO THOSE WHO HAVE BROUGHT US HERE.
TO CARRY ON.