Everything you need to know about the esteemed partnership
South Africa’s favourite chicken brand Nando’s have proven time and time again that they presence extends much further than their famous Peri-Peri sauce. Known for their cynically witty commercials and sassy social media presence, the fast food franchise has shown their inclination for the arts too. In fact, Nando’s are passionate about the Southern African heritage, which is the motivation behind their generous investment in local art and artists. This time around, Nando’s has taken two local artists Tafadzwa Tega and Nkoali Nawa across the pond to the United Kingdom for the 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair.
“It has become our mission to foster the vast talent of our own people and through our partnerships, create opportunities for them flesh out fully fledged careers. For this reason, Nando’s Creativity and Spier Arts Trust have joined force with the 1:54 in a partnership that remains one of the key patron opportunities for emerging artists from South Africa.” shares Spier Arts Trust curator.
About 1-54
1-54 is the first and only international art fair dedicated to contemporary art from Africa and its diaspora. With three editions per year, in London, New York, and Marrakech, and a pop-up fair in Paris, the name of the fair, 1-54, draws reference to the fifty-four countries that constitute the African continent. The main objective of 1-54 is to spearhead the expansion of contemporary African art on the international art market and became a leading voice in the business of art trade.
Commencing from 13-16 October 2022, 1-54 is celebrating its 10th anniversary in London. 1-54 London 2022 will host 50 international exhibitors across 21 countries, hosting the largest number of countries to date. Of the 50 international exhibitors, 16 galleries are from the African continent, and 14 galleries will participate at the fair’s London edition for the first time.
1-54 Contemporary Art Fair Selected Artists
Two South African artists, Nkoali Nawa and Adolf Tafadzwa Tega have been announced as part of the cohort of African exhibitors that will be exhibiting at this year’s 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair. “We are grateful to continue the legacy in 2022 with Nando’s UK as a bronze sponsor to 1-54 Art Fair and sponsoring two artists to exhibit at the 10th 1-54 London edition.” reads the 1-54 curatorial statement.
Tafadzwa Tega
Born in Harare, Zimbabwe, Tafadzwa Tega obtained a Diploma in Fine Art from the National Gallery of Zimbabwe in 2006, specializing in painting and sculpture. In 2007 he won The Best Young Artist award from The Delta Gallery in Harare, shortly after which he relocated to Cape Town, where he joined Good Hope Art. Tega started painting at the age of ten. He finds inspiration in the mundane, often overlooked aspects of life. He is fascinated with the density and scale of the faceless and often disregarded masses that populate our world – whether they are moving across borders in search of a better life or commuting together on their way to work. His works are often densely populated. Christian beliefs influence his practice and he says that his soul tells him when he is done with a work. Tega has participated in a few solo exhibitions, notably Africa without Borders, Gallery MOMO, Cape Town (2019) and in several group exhibitions. Recently, the talented artist was was represented by Mimmo Scognamiglio Artecontemporanea gallery at the recent Cape Town Art Fair 2022, where they had a sell-out booth of his work.
Nkoali Nawa
Initially a mineworker, Nawa is passionate and aware of the daily struggles that face Black South Africans. He draws most of inspiration from his mining background, depicting the harsh existence that mineworkers have to adapt to, as well as the plights of rural women whose husbands have relocated to the urban areas in search of work. An intrinsic phenomenon in a South African context. Nawa depicts the daily tasks and responsibilities that fill the lives of these individuals – their daily tasks almost becoming sacred rituals. To document the moment, Nawa takes photographs and works from the image telling their stories through his art. Nawa predominantly works in charcoal and paint.
Nawa completed a B-Tech Fine Art degree at Free State Technikon, in 2001. He was a visiting artist at the Bag Factory, Thupelo International Workshop and Greatmore Studios and a national finalist in the 2003 Brett Kebble Awards, Cape Town. Nawa has partaken in numerous group exhibitions. In 2018 he was part of the Nando’s Creative Exchange culminating in Rituals, at AVA Gallery, Cape Town and the Bashu Uhuru Freedom Festival.
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SA Creatives would like to extended an abundant congratulations to Tafadzwa Tega and Nkoali Nawa and they showcase their creativity at the 1-54 Contemporary Art Fair.
To stay tuned into their creative journey, be sure to follow @nandoscreativityofficial on Instagram and Facebook for more art, music and design news updates.
