Download press release as PDF document in Dutch or English.
Press release, January 20, 2013

West Den Haag presents in collaboration with the University of Lyon, FR and the Parking Gallery Johannesburg, SA the project:

23 Kilograms
Siemon Allen, Francis Burger, Donna Kukama and Zen Marie

Curated by Bettina Malcomess, Open 21.01.2013 — 09.03.2013
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Opening reception with performances by Anne Historical
Friday, 25.01.2013, 19:00 (see all events at the bottom)


The title, ‘23 Kilograms’, is a starting point to ask these questions and about how our practice as artists participate in the transfers, delays and connections that define the contemporary transfer of images across virtual space. Or of our own bodies and works as they travel to participate in the residency or the group show.

In South Africa, two events in the year of 2012 situate the question of information and its transfer: the Protection of State Information Bill and the Marikana Massacre. This project responds to the power of ‘information’ to project an image of a place or an event, but will also reflect on what it is that does not translate. What exactly does it mean to make work as a South African based artist for a European audience? What are the complexities of that audience’s national identity? Where is the potential for mistranslation and misun- derstanding.

The artists will set up a series of situations, services and exchanges within the exhibition space and in the city of Den Haag. The project will unfold over the course of 6 weeks with the space evolving all the time, with elements (text, objects, pamphlets, printed works) travelling to the gallery from outside The Nether- lands culminating in a publication. The exhibition includes a parallel event in Johannesburg at the Parking Gallery and an exchange with the project ‘Fundburo’ at the University of Lyon.



23 Kilograms Events

Friday 25 January 8 pm
Performance ‘What is the Way Out?’ by Anne Historical

Friday 1 February 7 pm
‘Massaging Nationalism’ by Zen Marie

Wednesday 6 February
‘23 (+ 6) Kilograms’ Artists discussion at the Parking Gallery, Johannesburg

Mon. 11 – Wed. 14 Febr.
Fundburo presents ’23 kilograms’ at University of Lyon, with Donna Kukama


For visual material, interviews and more information you can contact: marie-josé@west-denhaag.nl / +31 (0)70 3925359