Changing The Narrative Through Fine Arts with Lekgetho Makola

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In this episode we head to Javett-UP to explore how artists are using their expression to change the narrative around how men and black people are depicted in media and fine arts. To help unpack this topic I'm joined by the exceptionally talented and experienced CEO, Lekgetho Makola.
We discuss his journey in fine arts and learn how his exposure to international markets sparked a growing interest in shifting the colonial culture in artistic establishments. We also look into how social media is used to highlight the negative aspects of our culture and dehumanize people struggling with depression, drugs and other addictions. He describes his father as a hard person who taught him all about resilience, responsibility and the will to persevere by doing things by himself.
We then talk about the link between the arts and a spiritual journey which leads many untrained artists to depression. We end off by discussing the latest works happening at Javett-UP and how you can enjoy some of their latest showing in the coming months.
Lekgetho Makola was appointed the new CEO of the Javett-UP Arts Centre. Lekgetho joins Javett-UP from the Market Photo Workshop and has many years’ experience in arts administration. Lekgetho was the first African in over 60 years to chair the World Press Photo Awards General Jury in2020 and served on the Art Bank of South Africa Acquisition Committee in 2018 and 2019. His artistic philosophy is embedded in social justice and advocacy as an International Ford Foundation Fellow – Social Justice. Under his leadership, the Market Photo Workshop won the Principal Prince Claus Award in 2018.
He was born in GaSekhukhune, Limpopo in 1974. He studied fi ne arts at the Durban Institute of Technology and completed an MFA degree at Howard University in Washington, DC.

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