The BMW Art Generation Vol. III returned to the NIROX Sculpture Park and united leading voices in art, music, and cultural dialogue under the theme “A Tropology Between Image and Imagination.”
Presented by FNB Art Joburg in partnership with BMW Group South Africa, the one-day programme explored how symbolism, gesture, and form can reclaim histories while shaping speculative futures. As a result, the event reaffirmed its place as a vital platform for critical thought, creative exchange, and community engagement.
The programme unfolded through two headline talks that anchored the day’s discussions. First, in Image and Imagination, acclaimed artist Zanele Muholi examined the power of visual storytelling as a tool for resistance and self-authorship. Then, in Existing, Performance and Being, multidisciplinary artist Nicholas Hlobo reflected on performance as a means of articulating Black experiences across grief, history, and joy.
In addition to the talks, audiences encountered compelling visual exhibitions. New works by Mankebe Seakgoe and Tinyiko Makwakwa appeared alongside prints from Artist Proof Studio, all integrated into the expansive NIROX landscape.
Meanwhile, live performances deepened the atmosphere. South African icons Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse and Msaki celebrated the meeting of heritage and contemporary sound, while Muneyi’s Garden Affirmations offered a contemplative blend of music, poetry, and reflection.
Community involvement remained central to the festival. The BMW Centre for Art Education, in collaboration with Liesl Hartman, Head of Education at Zeitz MOCAA, hosted a workshop for the Kromdraai community, encouraging intergenerational creativity and hands-on artmaking.
Since its inception in 2020, BMW Art Generation has acted as a catalyst for nurturing a new generation of African art collectors through initiatives such as the BMW Young Collectors Co. Reflecting on the event, Taz Ramphisa, General Manager: Customer and Brand at BMW Group South Africa, said the programme demonstrated BMW’s ongoing commitment to creativity and innovation in the arts. Similarly, Mandla Sibeko, Managing Director of FNB Art Joburg, stressed art’s role as “a language of meaning, memory, and transformation.”
