Event: Launch: Introduction to Printmaking with and without a Press
Presented by the Art and Ubuntu Trust
When: 25 March 2026 at 16:00
Where: Pretoria Art Museum
Cnr Francis Baard and Wessels Street, Arcadia Park, Arcadia
On 25 March 2026 at 16:00, the Pretoria Art Museum will host the launch of the Art and Ubuntu Trust’s inaugural practical guide for artists: Introduction to Printmaking with and without a Press. Professor Nombeko Mpako will present this guide, which draws upon the knowledge and skills of practising printmakers and serves as a practical resource to support artists and aspiring printmakers in developing their skills. Contributing artists, including Professor Mpako, Avashoni Mainganye, Grace Tshikuvhe, Luzuko Dayile and Nomvula Hoko, will be present.
Concurrent with this event, the Art and Ubuntu Trust will introduce a series of publications celebrating South African artists and indigenous knowledge in the arts. This comprehensive collection highlights the richness of South Africa’s artistic heritage.
The Artist’s Speak Series features monographs on renowned figures such as Omar Badsha, Sokhaya Charles Nkosi, Sbonelo Tau Luthuli and Lefifi Tladi. These works include poetry, interviews and personal reflections, offering insights into their creative pursuits and perspectives:
- Luthuli explores Pan-African values through his ceramics
- Nkosi discusses the origins of his African aesthetics
- Badsha reflects on humanism in South African art
- Tladi draws inspiration from African knowledge and aesthetics
Complementing this is the Exploring Aesthetics series, which analyses the oeuvres of influential South African artists, Ernest Mancoba and Peter Clarke. These detailed assessments, supported by comprehensive timelines, deepen understanding of their contributions and serve as valuable resources for researchers and enthusiasts.
Additionally, the Trust will unveil its Indigenous Knowledge in the Arts trilogy:
- Volume 1, Listening to Literature, features writings inspired by oral traditions, including those of Keorapetse Kgositsile, Mazisi Kunene, SEK Mqhayi, Nontsizi Mqwetho and Sol Plaatjie.
- Volume 2, Defining South African Music, contains interviews with jazz musicians and enthusiasts discussing interpretations of musical forms, such as Marabi, Kwela, Mbaqanga and South African Jazz.
- Volume 3, The Hidden Thread in South Africa’s Visual Heritage, examines indigenous beadwork, ceramics, basketry, mural painting and the mathematical principles underpinning these arts, while critically engaging with paradigms that shape our understanding of this rich visual heritage.
These publications are co-published by the Art and Ubuntu Trust and UJ Press. They exemplify the Trust’s dedication to fostering a deeper appreciation of South Africa’s artistic traditions and contemporary expressions. Scholars, researchers and art enthusiasts are warmly invited to explore these valuable resources, which aim to enrich discourse on South African art and indigenous knowledge.
Contact details
Mmutle A Kgokong (Pretoria Art Museum)
012 358 6752/6750 or mmutlekg@tshwane.gov.za
Art and Ubuntu Trust
enquiries@artubuntu.org
The Pretoria Art Museum is open on Tuesdays to Sundays from 10:00 to 17:00 and is closed on Mondays and public holidays.