The Stories We Tell is a daring solo exhibition by Simon Venter that reimagines Christian iconography through the lens of contemporary South Africa.
Opening from 2 October to 18 November 2025 at Sisonke Gallery, Cape Heritage Hotel, 90 Bree Street, Cape Town CBD, the show integrates biblical imagery with South African narratives. The exhibition explores the casting of sacred figures, both historical and present-day, as metaphors for endurance, disillusionment, and curiosity in a fractured world. Generative AI played a central role in Venter’s creative process, not as a mere substitute for painting but as a compositional tool that sparked unexpected artistic avenues. These digital fragments were then reclaimed and transformed through his signature oil technique, creating an intrepid intersection of sacred tradition, modern life, and technological imagination.
Simon Venter, born in 1997 and based in Gqeberha, is a self-taught artist who has been working professionally for eight years. His practice is rooted in oil painting but remains open to experimental methods, including the integration of AI. Venter’s achievements include participation in the Nando’s Creative Exchange 2022 programme and an exhibition opportunity at the RMB Latitudes Art Fair. His work consistently explores the human condition and our evolving relationship with technology, positioning itself at the crossroads of art history, faith, and the digital future.
The Stories We Tell invites audiences into a reflective and visually striking experience, where human intuition and digital logic coincide. By merging the layered worlds of sacred iconography with contemporary South African realities, Venter reaffirms the relevance of these enduring narratives and challenges viewers to consider how tradition can be challenged and transformed through innovative technology.
