Langa locals join forces to open gallery ’16 on Lerotholi’ where creative expression celebrates the individual and collective stories of this colourful community and our rainbow nation.
Art reflecting the reality and spirit of South African life hangs on famous museum and gallery walls across the globe. What childhood friends Mpilo Ngcukana and Thulani Fesi wanted was a world-class gallery in the same community creating the art. So, they opened one in Langa – 16 on Lerotholi.
Mpilo Ngcukana, the Co-founder and Director of gallery ’16 on Lerotholi’, grew up in Cape Town and has always been passionate about creating positive change in under-resourced and under-developed communities. Together with his other co-founders, the group has created an area where the cool creative social hub of Langa and the rainbow nation can be admired and shared with the world.
We meet Mpilo as he walks us through the space, shares the work of talented artists like Mongezi Gum and takes us on a tour of the area and people that inspired this business and creative endeavour. The founders explain how their key relationships have supported the move – from Emma Vander Merwe, Director and Head Curator of the internationally renowned South African gallery, Everard Reid, to their own individual banks like Capitec, whose support and simplicity of use takes the stress out of banking allowing them to fully focus on the mission at hand – to grow their creative arts brand from its roots here in Langa.
Through the gallery, and through supporting various other projects from the area, the founders are focusing on their aim to address the challenges these communities face by empowering them through the arts, community building, education and healthy living initiatives.
If you need exactly this type of support from your bank to allow you time to focus on bright creative opportunities, visit https://www.capitecbank.co.za/personal/transact/switch-to-capitec/ to find out how you can switch to Capitec.
Capitec Weekly Competition:
If you have a special talent and are looking to take it to the next level and represent the rainbow nation, you stand a chance of winning a R1000 cash prize, courtesy of Capitec. Tell us about it by simply replying to the competition post on theinsidersa.co.za social media platforms using #LiveBetterWithCapitec. The competition closes at midnight on Sunday 26 March. Ts&Cs apply and can be found here (link to Ts&Cs).
