David Krut Projects is pleased to announce Inceptions of Black Serenity by Stephen Langa with works made at the David Krut Workshop in collaboration with Sbongiseni Khulu and additional pastel drawings from the artist’s studio.
Opening 3 August 2024, 11am to 2pm at The Blue House, 151 Jan Smuts Avenue in Parkwood.
A quiet still life, the bustling local bar, classical portraiture, and most notably, the human figure — Stephen Langa’s images craft an atmospheric experience through his portrayal of the ordinary. His use of everyday scenes intrigues viewers, inviting them into diverse stories of black cultural experience.
Langa’s body of work reflects on the experiences of those around him and his own life, referencing a collection of photographs and portraits. His subjects exist in a state of normality, gently embodying cultural signifiers of blackness without the imposed socio-political weight often seen in traditional representations. Langa presents a field for curiosity by depicting simple scenes of interiors and of figures. He invites the viewer to lean into these scenes and begin to question: Who are these figures? Where are they from? What is the story behind each object and each subject?
Stephen Langa is a Johannesburg-based South African artist from the Limpopo province, growing up in the small town of Makopane. He specialises in a number of different media, including charcoal drawing, watercolour and oil painting. In 2018 he achieved his Diploma in Art & Design from Tshwane North College in Pretoria.
Langa’s intimate imagery explores stories of the people, experiences and environment around him. Harkening back to artists like George Pemba, Claude Monet, Gerard Sekoto, Jo Maseko and more, his work presents visions of new economic narratives and reality. Langa’s work seeks to galvanize and has intimacy of black cultural experiences, composition’s that have questions for the viewer and highlights of his own experiences of his hometown and the city as visually detailed in his journey, experiencing life in both worlds from moving to one place to another.
“My charcoal linework and oil paintings have become pictorial visions that have a mesmerizing effect, inspired directly by my emotive feelings. One can immediately identify and engage with the characters portrayed, feeling a desire to know them better in person,” Langa explains.
For those familiar with the various cultural aspects of South Africa, Langa’s work evokes a sense of familiarity. His pieces delve into real-life situations featuring numerous elements of South African iconography such as the local tavern, games of snooker and a sense of style seen in the shoes and hats worn by his figures. Snooker has found a place in the black cultural experience, particularly as a symbol of community, resilience, fashion and skills. In many black communities, snooker clubs and halls serve as social hubs where people gather, share stories, and foster a sense of unity. The game has become a way to build connections and provide a positive, structured environment for young people, offering an alternative to less constructive pursuits. Overall, snooker serves as a powerful metaphor within black culture, embodying perseverance, community spirit, and the breaking of racial barriers. It continues to inspire and unite individuals, contributing to the rich tapestry of black cultural history.
Through his various explorations, the imagery captures the essence of the simplicity of life. The images simply are what they are – the works illustrate the sensitivities, the joys, the quiet, the personal and the communal. Amongst all the qualities, Langa’s work captures the essence of just being.
