Just opened at the BAT Centre are two new exhibitions: Zamokwakhe Gumede in the Menzi Mcunu Gallery and Vusimuzi Mbatha in the Democratic Gallery.

After meeting Sister Johanna at Mariannhill Mission, Zamokwakhe Gumede undertook a three month carpentry course. Sister Johanna introduced him to sculpture by reading biblical stories to him that he was required to illustrate in a form of sculpture. His current works depict themes of his everyday life experiences. He mainly works with indigenous Bottlebrush wood from the Drakensberg. He was among the first artists to be included in the artist-in-residency programme at the Bat Centre.

Vusimuzi Mbatha lives and works at Table Mountain, Mkhambathini, a rural area adjacent to Pietermaritzburg. Dreaming of being a motor vehicle designer, he started exhibiting and selling his model cars made out of scrap metal at the Tatham Art Gallery in 1995. He has since received commissions from corporate companies as well far as Russian Embassy. Last year he participated in the Perth International Arts Festival, Australia, where together with other artists they represented South Africa. His exhibition will be at the Democratic Gallery.