An exhibition titled 'Blessed by the Bees' at Springs Art Gallery showcases the paintings of Zakes Mda, a celebrated South African novelist, playwright, and thinker. Curated by Chepape Makgato and Thabo Sekoaila, the show features works that explore memory, storytelling, and identity through layered surfaces, collaged materials, and motifs like bees and self-portraits, drawing on Basotho mural traditions and modernist experimentation.
This exhibition matters because it highlights Mda's lesser-known visual practice, revealing how his narrative intensity translates from literature to painting. By foregrounding the interdisciplinary nature of his work, 'Blessed by the Bees' expands the understanding of Mda's creative legacy and underscores the rich dialogue between visual and literary arts in South African culture.