After a year of isolation and no visitors to KAP in 2020, 2021 began with new energy and a model collaboration between KAP and ArtCollab led by Deborah Weber. Artcollab consisted of the artists from Johannesburg and Cape Town Elgin Rust, Deborah Weber, Luntu Vumazonke and Jolene Cartmill, who worked closely with Anelisa Nyongo, Nombulelo Paliso (Kwandi), Sanela Maxengana, Veronica Betani and Siyabonga Maswana from KAP. The group produced prints, costumes, video work and performance pieces around the theme that emerged of gender-based violence.

A complex issue was tackled creatively, adeptly and the original work developed further into printed photographs that have been embroidered. These were exhibited in Johannesburg at Melrose Arch Gallery and are currently on exhibition alongside the original video work at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Museum in Gqeberha. This exhibition in Gqeberha is the culmination of recent workshops we hosted with a group of local women – master beaders – with Luntu Vumazonke, Veronica Betani and Elgin Rust joining as facilitators. A profoundly moving week workshopping the theme of gender-based violence created a safe space for voices, a new documentary, and the invitation of new embroidered works by the participants, all currently together on view alongside works from the art museum’s permanent collection in both an exhibition, and call to action, called “Ubumbano/Unite”.