Step into imagined futures, reclaim lost histories and reflect on the now through powerful works by 18 South African artists, as curated by Zinhle Khumalo. Echoes of Elsewhere: Fragments of the Past, Visions of Tomorrow is on at HUB Gallery until 27 August 2025.
Echoes of Elsewhere participants include:
- Printmaker and painter Nathaniel Sheppard,
- Sculptor Effo Munguanzo, collage artist Dorothy Barnes,
- Mosaic artist Ziyanda Majozi,
- Mixed-media artist Patrick Bongoy
Together, their work reimagines the past, interrogates the present and conjures new ways of seeing the world beyond the limits of conventional narratives.
‘In a world constantly changing at a rapid velocity, Echoes of Elsewhere offers a Pause – a space to reflect on the stories we inherit, the identities we perform, and the futures we dare to dream. Echoes of Elsewhere is not merely an exhibition to be observed but an experience to be inhabited. It encourages viewers to sit with the discomfort of the unknown, and to imagine worlds where liberation is a tangible possibility. By merging the speculative with the tangible, the artists remind us that the future is not predetermined – it is a collective project, waiting to be shaped. The exhibition ultimately asks not just ‘what if?’; but ‘what now?’ – compelling us to recognize ourselves as co-authors of unfolding stories,’ Khumalo states.
From digital distortion and ancestral echoes to imagined lands and speculative identities, Echoes of Elsewhere challenges viewers’ perceptions and suggests alternative futures. In this exhibition, the artists employ distinct materials and imagery to articulate their speculative vision.
‘Some may use augmented reality to create fractured landscapes where time collapses. While others rework historical photographs, documents, or oral traditions, embedding them with futuristic elements. And a few explore the body as a site of transformation where the line blurs between human and machine, natural and artificial,’ Khumalo continues.
The exhibition is part of HUB Gallery’s broader mission to support and showcase independent artists. HUB provides opportunities for artists who are not exclusively signed with commercial galleries to exhibit and sell their work, while connecting them to new networks in the interior design, architecture and artisan industries.
All the details:
Echoes of Elsewhere: Until 27 August 2025
Venue: House Union Block (HUB), Union House, 25 Commercial Street, Cape Town CBD
For more on HUB, visit https://houseunionblock.co.za/
