Come and experience the changing landscape of South African craft at Tradition Transformed. This showcase of contemporary design, one of the first events at this year’s Innibos Lowveld National Arts Festival, opens in Mbombela on Tuesday, June 30.
The exhibition features 30 works that show how traditional craft has evolved into an art and design platform that reflects creativity and contemporary South African culture.
The exhibition is curated by Art Aid Africa, an organisation dedicated to transforming indigenous skills into sustainable modern businesses.
Founders John Anthony Boerma and Jan Bhuda have curated several exhibitions for Innibos over the years, including Walking Tall – a collection of 15 large, uniquely decorated giraffes – in 2019, and Provoking Perspectives: Art as a Catalyst for Conversation, a highly acclaimed multi-generational visual arts exhibition in 2023.
Boerma and Bhuda are also behind the Innibos National Craft Awards, which from 2017 to 2022 gave crafters from across the country a platform to showcase their work to wider South African and international audiences.
All the works featured in Tradition Transformed were created by artisans previously showcased through the National Craft Awards, as well as new creatives, bringing together pieces recognised for their craftsmanship, originality and cultural relevance.
“We are proud to create a platform once again for these talented creatives,” says Sandra Jacobs, co-founder of the Innibos Lowveld National Arts Festival. “Exhibitions like this open up meaningful commercial and developmental opportunities, helping to ensure that craft can translate into sustainable livelihoods for the artists behind it.”
Boerma, who has dedicated much of his life to transforming indigenous skills into modern businesses, says that traditional craft techniques are being successfully reimagined into market-ready design.
“Each piece tells a story of heritage and resilience, bridging the gap between rural and urban narratives,” he explains. “The result is a collection of fashion-forward craft objects spanning diverse mediums, including ceramics, textiles, beadwork and sculptural pieces.”
Bhuda echoes this sentiment, emphasising that South African craft has firmly earned its place in contemporary design.
“We are proving that traditional techniques are not only historical artefacts, but living, evolving practices that are innovative and globally competitive,” he says. “This exhibition shows how local heritage can shape international design conversations, rather than simply follow them.”Tradition Transformed opens at the Mbombela Civic Centre on 30 June and runs until 4 July. Opening hours are 9am–5pm, with guided walkabouts at 10am daily. Entrance is free.
Simon Yeseni, whose work will be on display at Tradition Transformed in Mbombela from 30 June.
Interact with work by Sunboy Nkuna, similar to his piece pictured here, at Tradition Transformed in Mbombela from 30 June–4 July.
Beading reimagined by Letty Jiyane for Tradition Transformed, showing at the Mbombela Civic Centre from 30 June. (Note: Pictured is an example of the artist’s style; new works will be showcased at the exhibition.)
Contemporary crafter Simon Yeseni is one of the featured creatives at Tradition Transformed, showing at the Mbombela Civic Centre from 30 June–4 July. While this specific piece will not be on display, it beautifully represents the signature style attendees can expect.
Letty Jiyane’s work features in Tradition Transformed at the Mbombela Civic Centre from 30 June.
Examples of contemporary craft by Simon Yeseni (cow), Margaret Mahlangu (framed panel), Slindile Khosa (yellow bracelet with four blocks), Letty Jiyane (black and yellow bracelet) and Sunboy Nkuna (wooden spoon). The exhibition will feature a new collection of works by these artists.