One huge leap for Africa: Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa

Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa Opens Today!

South Africa’s cultural scene is about to change, with one of the most influential art institutions in the world opening its doors tonight, in partnership with GUCCI

Words: Bianca Agenbag

The 100,000-square-foot Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Mocca)- set to be in the same league as the Louvre in Paris and the Metropolitan in New York- will be the biggest museum to open on the continent in over a hundred years.

Designed by internationally acclaimed architect and designer, Thomas Heatherwick, the impending museum will be located at the V&A waterfront in the historic Grain Silo Complex and with its nine floors connected by intricate spiral staircases and rooms flooded by sunlight through its glass ceiling, it will be a work of art in itself.

Designed as a space for Africa’s artists to tell their stories, the focus will be on collecting, preserving, researching, and exhibiting cutting-edge contemporary art from Africa and its Diaspora. This will be done across 80 separate gallery spaces, an entire floor (18 areas in total) dedicated to art education, a rooftop sculpture garden, a conservation vault and reading rooms.

This is a huge leap forward for African culture and the Zeitz Mocaa will be a proud symbol for celebrating our country’s rich heritage.

Amongst the first artists to showcase their work will be Mohau Modisakeng, Marlene Dumas, Nandipha Mntambo, Nicholas Hlobo, Stefan Blom, Zanele Muholi and Kudzanai Chiurai.

Here is a quick look at some of their inspiring creations:

Mohau ModisakengMarlene Dumas