On the 14th of February 2024 we had the pleasure of opening a special Valentine's Day exhibition by South African artist, Motlhoki Nono. The exhibition, titled 'Kissing Studies', serves as a profound reflection on the performance of the kiss, delving into the nuanced questions surrounding the constructions of romance. The artist confronts the ‘ideal object of love’, by rendering gentle forms of black lovers’ image near and within romance. In this playful series exploring black people speaking in tongues, Motlhoki aims to unravel the complex tapestry of love while scrutinising the historic representation of black characters across diverse romantic narratives.Motlhoki sat down with DKP exhibitions manager, Anya Lureman to expand on her thoughts, processes and her time in the David Krut Workshop. Enjoy!

In this episode, Phumulani Ntuli expands on his most recent collaboration with David Krut Projects that resulted in his body of work “Kunela iphuzu emafini’ / echoes of the point cloud"​The works are largely inspired by a film titled, ‘Jim Goes to Joburg’ directed by Donald Swanson – in this podcast, the artist has generated the voice of Donald Swanson using AI to narrate his answers! 'Kunanela iphuzu emafini / Echoes of the Point Cloud' contains excerpts from South Africa’s history of motion pictures in collision with current point cloud data, automation, and synthesis bestowed by Artificial Intelligence. The body of work attends to scenes deployed through a black and white cinematic lens, to reenact the South African seminal film tradition within the margins of the changing socio-political landscape. 'Kunanela iphuzu emafini / Echoes of the Point Cloud' searches for alternate ways of seeing, experiencing and navigating the changing city.⁠These works will be showing at Latitudes Centre for the Arts until the 26th of January 2024. Visit Shepstone Gardens to view Phumulani's work!

I imagine you to be wondering what could link an alternative arts bookstore to the world of bat conservation. The view of David Krut Projects in general is that art is not only a cultural, creative practice but also a knowledge system that disseminates information through one of our fundamental processing senses; sight. We believe in the importance of recognising the necessity of creativity across all professional fields, more so, how impactful cross-pollination of creativity between different professions.   Ernest Charles James Seamar graciously gave us his time to teach us about all things bats. We learnt that his work with bats is in some ways his gateway into understanding the intricacies of broader natural systems and that amongst many other contributions, bats play a vital role in maintaining a balanced ecosystem. Bats ensure the pollination of plants, seed dispersal and pest control. The impact bats have on our natural world is so often overlooked as they are misunderstood as nothing but spooky creatures of the night.  It is due to these key contributions that AfricanBats NPC has dedicated their activities to ensuring the protection of bats from habitat loss, disease and persecution. Their vision is to create a future that sees a thriving population of bats across Africa and subsequently, a thriving African ecosystem.

In this episode Christa Swanepoel is joined by artist and printmaker Fiver Löcker who tells us about her reasons for becoming an artist and how her life’s journey of constant travel and new experiences has impacted the way in which she creates and shares her perspective with the world. Fiver was born in Duisburg, Germany in 1963. Since leaving Germany at the age of 19 she has worked, lived and travelled around the world. She is interested in documenting different cultures, working on the premise that every culture looks strange to someone, and that what we think is normal is entirely weird to someone else. She has worked in video, analog and digital photography and sketching and is currently exploring the medium of fine art printing. She divides her time between Johannesburg, South Africa and various locations along the European canal system on her live-aboard boat “Hendrika”. For more about Fiver visit her website at https://www.fiverlocker.com/ and follow her on Instagram by clicking the link:  https://www.instagram.com/fiverlocker/?hl=enClick HERE to see the artwork we discussed in this episode!

In this episode, the first of 3 episodes featuring The Printing Girls, Christa Swanepoel invited Lyrene Kühn-Botma to talk about her involvement in the all-female printing collective The Printing Girls, her conceptual artwork themes and the intricacies behind stone lithograph printing. Lyrene tells us how past experiences of grief and loss has influenced her work and development as artist, what she hopes to do next and how she continues to push the boundaries of printmaking in her personal practice. Lyrene Kühn-Botma is an artist and researcher working with and combining traditional printing media, drawing and digital drawing in her art practice. Her explorations on paper and digital media involve the investigation of death studies and video games to explore the new and alternative ways we grieve in contemporary, technologically driven societies. She is currently employed as a Junior Lecturer at the Fine Arts Department of the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein, South Africa. Links: - http://www.lyrenekuhn.co.za/ - https://www.instagram.com/lyrene_kuhnbotma/?hl=en

In this episode, we talk to artist Roxy Kaczmarek about her new body of work and recent exhibition "Shifting Positions" at David Krut Projects. Kaczmarek’s paintings and prints examine the sensibilities and relationships between people and nature, considering the aesthetics and psychology that bring plants into urban living and working spaces. The work deals with an inquiry into the displacement of plants and their evolution in unknown environments. We chat to Roxy about her recent residency in Leipzig, Germany, and the inspiration behind specific works on show in her exhibition. For more information about the work please contact info-jhb@davidkrut.com

Listen to artist Stephen Hobbs tell the story of his long journey from South Africa to Ireland and back which led to the creation of his Shallow Sleep exhibition. In this episode, Hobbs takes Melissa Waters through his Shallow Sleep installation at his Maboneng studio. This episode was recorded at the installation site itself!

In this episode, David Krut interviews artist Vusi Beauchamp about his artistic process and experience printmaking at the David Krut Workshop in Maboneng, Johannesburg. The Cult of One is Vusi Beauchamp's solo exhibition which includes monotypes made in collaboration with Kim-Lee Loggenberg at the David Krut Workshop in 2021 and 2022, as well as mixed medium paintings with an array of mark making, pop art-inspired bright colours and text. Beauchamp is predominantly a painter, creating his works using various methods including spray painting and stencilling and materials such as crayons, charcoal, oil sticks and acrylic paints. Similarly, Beauchamp’s prints use a number of materials and techniques, often incorporating multiple layers to create a final print. The multidisciplinary approach for the series allowed for collaborative exchange, broadening the scope of realities in the multifarious dystopian Rainbow Nation narrative of the works.For more information on The Cult of One, visit the David Krut Portal: https://davidkrutportal.com/vusi-beauchamp-the-cult-of-one/

In this episode of the David Krut Podcast, artist Vusi Beauchamp speaks about his large-scale paintings on show in his solo exhibition The Cult of One - Part 1 in Johannesburg, August 2022. We find out more about Beauchamp's use of symbolism and iconography in his works The Tempest, The Great Feed, Trojan Horse and Saints & Sinners. In these paintings, he makes satirical commentary on politics and abuse of power. He also speaks to stereotypical representations of the Black race, the dual nature of South Africa and its politics; and the use of text and language in his artworks. The Cult of One - Part 2 will be opening in David Krut New York on 6 September 2022.To find out more visit the David Krut Portal at https://davidkrutportal.com/vusi-beauchamp-the-cult-of-one/To request more information or pricing on available artworks, contact info@davidkrut.com

Mandlenkosi 'Mandla' Mavengere collaborated with the David Krut Workshop in 2021 and 2022 where he created a series of oil-based monotypes with DKW printer Sbongiseni Khulu. Mandla's brightly coloured works speak to the diversity and inequalities of labour, the hardships of migration and the monetary value of goods and services rendered. The figures pictured in his works are economically fabricated identities who are fitting into a new homeland of occupation versus the home of origin. In this episode of the David Krut Podcast, Britt Lawton sits down with Mandla Mavengere to talk about his artistic practice and this series of prints that will feature in his online solo exhibition Forces of Ambition. In this discussion, Mandla shares how he embraced his status as a Zimbabwean migrant living in Johannesburg, how this led to him inventing his own fictional currency, and how he experienced collaborating with the DKW. Learn all about the forces that drive Mandla and the subjects in his works in this episode...

Thireshen Govender is an architect, urban designer, and researcher who considers himself a curious creative. Thireshen recently participated in an experimental residency at the David Krut Workshop where he was introduced to printmaking techniques. In this podcast we find out more about his interests as a urban designer, architect and researcher, and how that has translated into his artistic practice. We also learn about his interest in environment, the social implications of spaces on communities, the state of flux between Johannesburg and Cape Town, his experience in the workshop, how language and notation feature in his imagery, and so much more... Contact info-jhb@davidkrut.com to find out more about Thireshen and his work...

In this episode, architect Peter Cohen unpacks his recent residency at the David Krut Workshop, exploring the world of printmaking and the freedom that fine art has brought him. We find out more about Peter Cohen's new found desire to create fine art, what he thinks the relationship is between his background in architecture and his exploration of fine art, how he has grappled with printmaking processes, his experience collaborating in our workshop and what he has discovered during his residency.For more information, contact info-jhb@davidkrut.com or visit our website.

In 2022, Fourie was invited to be in residence at the David Krut Workshop in Maboneng to work at a larger scale than ever before. Using drawings made over over a period of time in a surprising and refreshing return to the foundational medium, she has been experimenting with translating these sketches into monumental mixed media artworks, combining acrylic paint with soft pastel marks. Heidi Fourie met up with Britt Lawton at the David Krut Projects Gallery and Bookstore to talk about her completed residency. Heidi shares insight on her overall experience and the amazing artistic growth and inspiration she acquired. Shifting mediums from oil painting to pastels and drawing pencils and working on a much larger scale are just some of the things Heidi has done differently. She also tells us how this experience has influenced her going forward, what she hopes to do next and how she worked on her soon to be released soft-ground editions with Kim-Lee Loggenberg.

Find out the story behind 'Baby Yellow', a character created by artist Ryan Arenson, who goes on adventures, philosophises about the meaning of life, emotion and companionship, and enacts wild fantasies of the adult kind.   In this podcast, Ryan Arenson speaks to Melissa Waters about the character of Baby Yellow and where he came from, as well as artist books, e-publishing and self publishing, and his recent day spent in the David Krut Workshop. In his current exhibition at David Krut Projects in Johannesburg, viewers can see the last 10 years of art-making by Arenson, most of which stems from his journey exploring the alter-ego Baby Yellow and Arenson's experience teaching and working with disabled adults. Ryan also speaks about destigmatising issues with mental health, a thread that can be seen in many of the exhibited works.David Krut Portal Online Viewing Room: https://davidkrutportal.com/ryan-arenson-baby-yellow/

In this episode of the David Krut Podcast, Britt Lawton interviews FORMS Gallery artist Khotso Motsoeneng about the series of prints that he created in collaboration with the David Krut Workshop.Listen to Khotso recount how he discovered the world of art by playing around with photography; and learn all about his intuitive use of layered texture and bright colours to express a sense of nostalgia and "finding home." Khotso Motsoeneng is a self-taught painter and printmaker whose training in photography developed his keen eye for colour and form. Motsoeneng's practice seeks out an abstract formal language which brings together his keen observation of nature and intuitive perspectives on the relationship between different colours and emotions. He is particularly inspired by woodgrain as a trace of natural processes, and looks to plant life as a metaphor for human development. Find out more here: https://forms.gallery/Khotso-Motsoeneng

This is the second episode in a series of three relating to a collaboration between David Krut Projects and FORMS Gallery, founded and directed by Anthea Buys. This collaboration is made of of 3 FORMS Gallery artists working in the David Krut Workshop in Arts on Main, producing unique works on paper for a physical exhibition hosted in David Krut Projects, Johannesburg in May 2022. In this episode of the David Krut Podcast, Britt Lawton interviews artist Adrian Fortuin about the series of prints that he created in collaboration with the FORMS Gallery and the David Krut Workshop.Learn about Fortuin's unconventional journey from soccer player to conceptual artist, the rich history behind the images he chooses for his prints, and why he chose the relatively uncommon cyanotype process for this series. For more on this exhibition and body of work, visit www.davidkrutportal.com

This is the first in a series of three episodes relating to a collaboration between David Krut Projects and FORMS Gallery, founded and directed by Anthea Buys. This collaboration is made of of 3 FORMS Gallery artists working in the David Krut Workshop in Arts on Main, producing unique works on paper for a physical exhibition hosted in David Krut Projects, Johannesburg in May 2022. In this episode, Britt Lawton interviews Lesotho-born artist Matty Monethi after her two week collaboration at our printmaking workshop. Matty reflects on her journey as an artist, her experience at the workshop and the influences and themes around her paintings.Matty Monethi was born in Maseru, Lesotho and grew up in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. She studied Fine Art at the Ruth Prowse School of Art in Cape Town and continued her studies at the Wits School of Arts. Through painting, text and printmaking, she explores the human elements of space and memory. She uniquely captures the transient nature of time by letting her present circumstances and the relationship with her surroundings influence her work.Enamored by the qualities of collaboration, and ‘room to play and experiment,’ Matty has come to love the process of making prints and looks to expand in this discipline. Listening time 19 minutes 50 seconds.

Learn more about artist Chad Cordeiro before he heads off to Abijan for an artists residency and exhibition with the Donwahi Foundation. Cordeiro has been working as a print technician at the David Krut Workshop since 2012. Together with Nathaniel Sheppard III  and Sbongiseni Khulu, Cordeiro co-founded Danger Gevaar Ingozi  (DGI) Studio in 2016 - a co-operative space for artistic research and collaboration, with a focus of print-based media. In this podcast, Chad Cordeiro speaks to Britt Lawton about his artistic practice, the value of printmaking, the importance of the archive or collected material as a source of inspiration, his love of music and its relationship to print, the entanglement of ideas and references, his upcoming solo exhibition and so much more... NotesChad Cordeiro artist page: https://davidkrutprojects.com/artists/60632/chad-cordeiroChad Cordeiro & Nathaniel Sheppard III Collaborative work: https://davidkrutprojects.com/artists/46885/cordeiro-sheppard-iiiDanger Gevaar Ingozi: https://www.instagram.com/dgi.studio/?hl=en'Under the infirmary, 2021': https://davidkrutprojects.com/artworks/60763/under-the-infirmaryContact info-jhb@davidkrut.com for all artwork inquiries. Podcast artwork features details from 'Under the infirmary, 2021' by Chad Cordeiro

In this special episode of the David Krut Podcast, David Krut called from the Investec Cape Town Art Fair in February 2022 to host a live interview with Uganda born artist Charlene Kumantale. Charlene was showing her work with AfriArt Gallery owned by Daudi Karungi - long term friend and collaborator of David Krut. Charlene Komuntale is a digital artist and illustrator based in Kampala, Uganda. She holds a BA in Animation from Limkokwing University, Malaysia. In her recent series-in-progress (some of which were included at the Investec Cape Town Art Fair, 2022) “Not Fragile” and “No Fake News”, Komuntale portrays women - mostly black African women. The subject matter is personal yet presented in a relatable way as inspiration is drawn from her own experiences but also informed by the experiences of other women around her.The heads of the women she portrays are covered by different elements, which create poetic yet striking narratives around a broadly relatable figure. At first sight, the works evoke a dreamy, peaceful, and quiet atmosphere, whereas at a closer look powerful, empowering and unapologetic messages come to the fore. Dominant, male-centered perspectives on women’s roles and supposedly nature-given capabilities and constraints attached to female bodies are being evaluated and re-examined. The juxtaposition of different elements creates an interesting asymmetry between awareness of self and the (male-centered) gaze of others. Intimacy, tenderness, vulnerability, and female beauty do not suggest fragility. Instead, it is related to strength and unapologetic confidence. Komuntale’s digital paintings deconstruct patriarchal narratives as shaped by culture, religion, and politics and provide a ground for inquiry and interrogation, and for visions of different futures.Her compositional choices create a space at the edges of reality – moments frozen in time and filled with surreal elements and metaphorical and symbolical references. Taken from https://afriartgallery.org/artists/charlene-komuntale

In this episode, Britt Lawton interviews Hemali Khoosal, a local, award winning Johannesburg artists. With the help of Printer Sarah Judge, Khoosal created a series of oil-based monotypes at the David Krut Workshop. These monotypes will form part of the upcoming monotype exhibition called "Alone of its Kind".In this podcast we hear all about Khoosal's journey into the artworld and how working with people form the golden thread in all of her multi-disciplinary works. Find out what Hemali Khoosal enjoyed about collaborating with the David Krut Workshop, and how she intermediated video art and monotype print.Find out more about Hemali on the David Krut Website links below: Alone of its Kind Group Exhibition - https://davidkrutprojects.com/exhibitions/62249/alone-of-its-kindGesturing Toward: Monotype collaboration with Hemali Khoosal - https://davidkrutprojects.com/62366/gesturing-toward-may-monotype-collaboration-with-hemali-khoosalHemali Khoosal - https://davidkrutprojects.com/artists/62269/hemali-khoosal