'Second to None' Exhibition - Event

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'Second to None' Exhibition 24 June - 3 September 2006

Celebrating 50 years of women's struggles.

This exhibition, which runs at Iziko SA National Gallery from 24 June until 3 September, commemorates the event 50 years ago, on 9 August 1956, when 20 000 women made their way to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to protest the government's restrictive pass laws.

It was a highly public statement by those whose 'proper' place was ostensibly in the home. "Second to None" asserts women's power to action and explores the ongoing struggle for personal freedom in the public domain.

Contemporary art that charts ways to negotiate issues linked to individual and collective identity, race and gender has been drawn from both the Iziko South African National Gallery holdings and independent sources.

The exhibition includes established artists such as Helen Sebidi, Penny Siopis, Noria Mabasa, Tracey Rose and Berni Searle and it also presents a new generation of artists such as Keorapatse Mosimane, Bridget Baker and Zanele Muholi.

Many of these artists engage gender as an open platform for change as its performative nature allows artists to challenge the accepted roles

assigned to men and women. Re-articulating their experience and conception of the world, these artists negotiate, contest, redefine and re-imagine gender roles exemplifying the freedoms won since 1956 but also revealing the

societal norms that still constrain women in South Africa.

"Life and Soul: portraits of women who move South Africa", a component of "Second to None", is an exhibition of photographs by Karina Turok of women who have become icons and role models through their inspirational qualities and impact on the South African community.

From diverse backgrounds and widely divergent spheres - creative, political, sporting and business - they reveal their strength, warmth and humanity in images that celebrate the

achievements and history of South African women.

The exhibition has been conceptualised and curated by Gabi Ngcobo, Assistant

Curator of Iziko South African National Gallery and Virginia MacKenny, Michaelis Art School lecturer and independent curator.

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