Defining the boundaries of art, a closer look at GALLERY CHOSI’s nomadic approach.

Exhibition at CommunityZA in Durban. Courtesy of GALLERY CHOSI.

GALLERY CHOSI is a newly established artist developmental, collaborative and exhibition

space first launched in 2020 as an art project called Art & Conversations which has been

running a series of pop-up art exhibitions and dialogues about artist developmental and

sustainability strategies. We provide creative developmental strategy for emerging visual

artists, run art exhibitions as well as artist-led projects and events. We take pride in being

an artist-youth led establishment which provides a developmental and supportive platform for collaboration and engagement for visual art practitioners as our core mission and values. The main objectives of establishing the project in 2020 included, finding spaces which are adapted to alternative exhibition spaces and run exhibitions, providing a platform for local

emerging artists who had never had an opportunity to exhibit their work, introduce artists to the creative economy and facilitate collaborations and networking amongst the upcoming artists. Facilitating the growth and sustainability of visual artists from marginalized communities in South Africa.

Art & Conversations now evolves to become GALLERY CHOSI, to continue to function as

an interdisciplinary art space but still maintain operating nomadically, to allow us flexibility and adaptability in the ever-changing art and cultural industry. The activities of the project will be integrated as part of GALLERY CHOSI and will remain a pivotal feature of our

programs.

The word ‘chosi’ is borrowed from one of the official languages in South Africa, IsiXhosa

which loosely translates to ‘let it be so’, it is an assertion often said after making an

intercession or devotion in the IsiXhosa culture, we have adapted this phrase and apply it as a metaphor which signifies the manifestation of individualistic creative journeys of all

our artistic practices and of our best efforts in the role that we play in our local arts ecology.

Exhibition (Art & Dine Edition) at Breakfast Room in Durban, Courtesy of GALLERY CHOSI