Bulumko Mbete's solo exhibition comes to Kimberley

The William Humphreys Art Gallery in Kimberley is set to host a thought-provoking solo exhibition by South African artist Bulumko Mbete, winner of the prestigious 2023 Absa L’Atelier Gerard Sekoto Award.

Titled "Like the sky, I’ve been too quiet," the exhibition will run from August 14 to September 13, 2025, and promises to be a captivating experience for art enthusiasts.

Mbete's exhibition is a multi-layered exploration of her family's history, drawing inspiration from her grandfather's 1997 road trip across South Africa.

“In 1997, my grandfather embarked on a road trip through the eastern and central parts of South Africa. Drawing from his journey, I contemplated how memories are passed down and how sound, texture, and gesture can be used to reconstruct stories that live between generations. This exhibition is my way of honouring what we inherit, what we forget, and what we choose to carry forward,” says Mbete.

Through a combination of sound installations, sculptures, and textiles, Mbete reflects on the power of slow, intentional storytelling and the importance of preserving memories. Her work invites viewers to contemplate the significance of inherited traditions, rituals, and the fragility of remembrance.

The Exhibition's Highlights

• Sojourning: A sound installation developed through conversations with Mbete's mother and aunt, reassembling the past through their recollections.
• In Our Mother’s Gardens: Inspired by a 2021 documentary, this installation explores the tenderness and resilience of maternal relationships.
• Earthsong, Earth’s Time: A choreography with nature, examining the potential alchemy emerging from inherited traditions of labour and ritual.
• Reciting Memory: A sculptural series exploring iconography and ceramic language, rendering memories tangible through earth transformed by hand.

Mbete's work serves as a poignant reminder that silence is not absence, but rather a space where stories gather, waiting to be heard. By sharing her family's narrative, Mbete offers a gentle yet firm insistence that every memory matters.

“We are honoured to host Bulumko Mbete’s work as part of the Absa L’Atelier Pan-African Series here in Kimberley,” says Chepape Makgato, Chief Curator at the William Humphreys Art Gallery.

"This aligns deeply with WHAG’s mission to support artistic excellence and foster cross-cultural exchange on the African continent. Mbete’s work – anchored in quiet resonance – echoes our vision of preserving heritage while embracing contemporary artistic expression. The handmade sculptures and dyed fabrics preserve traces of meditative gestures that speak to coexistence, memory, and the delicate act of leaving a mark while honouring what preceded us,” continues Makgato.

Don't miss this opportunity to experience Mbete's immersive body of work and reflect on the power of memory, legacy, and quiet geographies that shape South African identity.

Exhibition Details

Title: Like the sky, I’ve been too quiet

Artist: Bulumko Mbete, 2023 Absa L’Atelier Gerard Sekoto Winner

Venue: William Humphreys Art Gallery, Kimberley- Dates: August 14 – September 13, 2025