Black to the future
by
JUAN STOCKENSTROOM
Juan Stockenstroom – Afrofuturism and NFTs
Cape Town artist Juan Stockenstroom’s Afrofuturistic sentiment will be the focus of his solo exhibition that opens at the WORLDART gallery on 2 September. It also aligns with the art world’s adoption of NFTs: Six paintings will each be accompanied by an NFT designed by him.
For many people the concept of Afrofuturism seems self-explanatory and refers to iconic movies like Black Panther and the music of Sun Ra. But this is just the beginning of the story.
Afrofuturism is an artistic movement blending science fiction, fantasy, Black history and contemporary culture to imagine a fresh Black future -- a perspective heralded by black communities across the world.
Why is the Afrofuturist’s voice relevant? Would it differ from the average futurist? Is it important? Absolutely. The historical struggle to exist, the battle to be treated humanely and the pursuit of equality is ongoing – this is the source of the Afrofuturist’s view. It’s a vision considering the past, present and future that resides in the mainstream’s blind spots.
“If Afrofuturism is fiction that addresses Black themes and concerns through images of technology and the future combined with mythologies and histories of ancient African civilisations, then as an African artist living on the continent of Africa, I feel excited to explore this theme from a slightly different perspective.
For example, throughout the recent Covid global pandemic the vaccine availability response to the African continent seemed to be one that was bitter sweet. The fact that many states in the US were living somewhat in a futuristic parallel plane with economies functioning, full capacity stadiums at sports events and high numbers of vaccinated people no longer having to follow Covid protocols gave the impression that the US looked like a Utopia, even though this was all happening in the present. At the same time In South Africa the polar opposite reality of slow vaccine roll-outs, high levels of rioting and looting on a national level, and of course high numbers of daily infections and death rates, resembled somewhat more of a Dystopia. So it is in this polarity between the two concepts of Utopia and Dystopia that this project is strongly rooted. Not so much in its aesthetic but more so in asking the question of what the future for an African, living on the African continent, looks like?” – Juan Stockenstroom.
The NFT connection
For those that still feel slightly perplexed when NFTs or non-fungible tokens get mentioned: It is a digital unit (image, sound or video) stored via blockchain technology – this unit or token is now unique or non-fungible. The technology NFTs use ensure all the relevant information about the artwork is stored in the token. NFTs cannot be manipulated or hacked because blockchain technology is a storage system involving a complex network of millions of computers – only if all the computers agree the data is correct, the token is usable. This means the digital file is now a commodity that can be traded by its owner or creator. So even though anybody can see it on their devices, only one person can own or trade it.
WORLDART was the first art gallery in Africa to sell an NFT and on 2 September will also launch a platform where art lovers can view and buy NFT’s by the gallery’s artists. NFTs attach an unique smart contract to each work stipulating the ownership and transaction details that is especially relevant to future transactions. For this exhibition buyers will be able to view and bid on the NFTs on WORLDART’s website. The highest bid will acquire a package that includes both the painting and the corresponding NFT.
The works will also be shown at the Investec Cape Town Art Fair Digital Event taking place from 17-19 September and the last day of this event will also be the day bidding for the artworks will close.
Gallery director and curator Charl Bezuidenhout says: ‘’Blockchain technology provides an excellent opportunity to increase artists’ reach. Working with a talented and inquisitive artist like Juan Stockenstroom on this innovative exhibition, is a privilege.’’
The physical exhibition opens 2 September on First Thursdays when art galleries in the Cape Town CBD stay open till 8pm and will run till Thursday 30 September.
Watch this video interview with Juan Stockenstroom: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kFaEH1CMsk
For more information, contact Charl Bezuidenhout at charl@worldart.co.za or on +27 (0)21 423 3075 or visit www.worldart.co.za