citylikeyou — POOL — Johannesburg by Io Makandal

POOL is an emergent platform for curatorial and artistic production, experimentation and research, working with artists to support and commission new work situated in the area of New Doornfontein, which is also home to a few artists studios. Emerging from a joint investigation into the role, form, and organising systems of art institutions in South Africa, POOL considers from a curatorial and artistic perspective, the question of what it means to institute and how to institute in a South African (and specifically Johannesburg) context. POOL is organised as an experiment in alternative instituent forms and as a site through which to stretch curatorial methodology and artistic practice through the frames of self-organising and self-instituting. They often have very interesting projects on exhibit and workshops taking place - best check their facebook page for this - https://www.facebook.com/poolspace/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel. While you’re in the area you could also have lunch at the Troyville Hotel up the road.

Website
pool.org.za

Address
POOL, 23 Voorhout Street, Johannesburg, South Africa

Artist

Current city: Johannesburg

iomakandal.com

Io is an interdisciplinary artist based in Johannesburg. Her work explores binaries between artifice/nature, chaos/order, utopia/dystopia real/imaginary spatialities during the Anthropocene. She is also intrigued by how human and non-human beings are evolving in hybrid environments.

More Places in Johannesburg 8

Johannesburg / Monument

Constitution Hill is a living museum that tells the story of South Africa’s journey to democracy. The site is a former prison and military fort that bears testament to South Africa’s turbulent past and, today, is home to the country’s Constitutional Court, which endorses the rights of all citizens. There is perhaps no other site of incarceration in South Africa that imprisoned the sheer number of world-renowned men and women as those held within the walls of Constitution Hill’s Old Fort, Women's Jail and Number Four. Nelson Mandela. Mahatma Gandhi. Joe Slovo. Albertina Sisulu. Winnie Madikizela-Mandela. Fatima Meer. They all served time here. But the precinct also confined tens of thousands of ordinary people during its 100-year history: men and women of all races, creeds, ages and political agendas; children too; the everyman and the elite. Today, every year there is the not to be missed Basha Uhuru Creative Festival (https://bashauhuru.co.za) which is hosted at Con Hill. The fest takes place in June, the month of the historical June 16th Youth Day.

Johannesburg / Natural Area

The Melville Koppies East is quite spectacular, with almost a 360 degree view of the city's canopying tree tops and urban outcrops. This small nature reserve in the city is a public space where traditional worshipers gather every sunset, pet owners walk their socialised dogs and enjoy the views. The protected natural vegetation of shrubs, rocky outcrops and grasses are something to behold. As a dog owner myself, I love to walk here. It is best to go at a busy time, which is usually in the afternoon and to be on the safer side, to leave valuables at home.

Johannesburg / Art Centre

It is hard to describe exactly what Keleketla! Library is as it is a space that resists definition. Keleketla! is a movement / creative philosophy / artwork / space for conversation. Go check them out and find out for yourself...

Johannesburg / Bookstore

Book Dealers is an institution in itself. If you're looking for second-hand almost new books, this is the place to go.

Johannesburg / Music Venue

The Moral Kiosk is the best place to have a great cup of coffee, get your leather shoes repaired, buy that rare vinyl you've been looking for ages, get your tarot read and watch an intimate gig and chat to Quiet about life in Joburg.