The Youth Still Rise: 76/25 Print Exhibition by The Arts Company Soweto

Soweto has never just been a place—it’s a pulse. A living archive of resistance, creativity, and reimagination. On June 16th, as the country commemorated Youth Day, The Arts Company Soweto (TACS) hosted a stirring exhibition titled 76/23 at Constitution Hill’s Women’s Jail.

The show—developed through an intensive printmaking mentorship program—showcased 16 emerging artists whose works reimagine what the next 30 years could look like for South African youth.

Through monotypes, linocuts, still life's, and conceptual prints, this new wave of artists are asking: What have we inherited and what are we choosing to change?

Who is The Arts Company Soweto?

TACS is more than just an art collective—it’s a community-powered incubator that provides mentorship, access to studio resources, printmaking training, and exhibition opportunities for young artists across Gauteng.

Operating from both the Mofolo Art Centre in Soweto and Constitution Hill’s Transwerke building, TACS has guided over 150 creatives in the past five years. The mission? Equip artists with not only skills but sustainable careers—and return the power of artistic storytelling to Black youth.

In Their Own Words: The Artists Behind the Prints

Medium: Mixed Medium (Lino-cut, Charcoal, and Acrylic)

Price: R 6000 (unframed)

Wandile Hlosokuhle Ndlovu (aka uMalumeWah)

Q: What does June 16 mean to you personally?

Wandile:

It feels distant and close at the same time. My mom was six in 1976, living in Pietermaritzburg. She didn’t even know what was happening in Soweto. I only understand June 16 through stories and art. I don’t personally know anyone who was involved, but I carry the spirit of that resistance.

Q: Why did you apply for the TACS workshop?

Wandile:

This was my third time applying. I kept showing up, asking questions, learning—even when I wasn’t selected. This time, I got in. The program challenged me, grounded me, and gave me the confidence to finally say: I am a protest artist. But one who creates from love, care, and joy.

Q: What stood out most during the experience?

Wandile:

The community. Two days before the opening, we were still painting walls, framing each other’s work, cleaning the space. This wasn’t just a workshop—it was family. I’ll never forget the feeling of standing in that exhibition space, seeing everyone’s voices come to life.

Sibusiso Makhunga

Q: How would you describe your experience in the program?

Sibusiso:

Foundational. I felt so honored to be selected. The program taught me things that would’ve taken years to figure out on my own. It wasn’t just practical training—it was theory, curatorial thinking, and a deep dive into what it means to be a professional artist.

Q: Any personal highlights?

Sibusiso:

Learning how to frame and present my own work. Also, the panel discussion on “Reimagining the Next 30 Years from 1976” really stayed with me. And of course, being recognized with an award from the program—it was a proud moment I’ll always carry.

Q: What did you take away from the exhibition?

Sibusiso:

A renewed sense of purpose. Seeing my piece installed at Constitution Hill, knowing it was part of a broader dialogue about identity, struggle, and vision—it reminded me why I left my 9-to-5 to do this full-time.

Artwork Feature: 

Layers of My Becoming By Sibusiso Makhunga

“Layers of My Becoming” is a still life print installation that unpacks the emotional labor of being an artist, son, and survivor in modern-day South Africa. Centered around a symbolic tablecloth, it features carefully placed fragments—photographs, objects, and checkerboard motifs—that represent sacrifice, memory, and quiet power.

• The table becomes a metaphor for daily decision-making: survival vs. purpose, presence vs. ambition.

• Checkerboard tiles echo life as a chess game—strategy, sacrifice, risk.

• A navy blue skyline suggests early mornings and late nights, filled with exhaustion, hope, and quiet battles.

“This isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s a portrait of inner life. The balancing act we live

Meet the Artist: Sibusiso Makhunga

• From: Richards Bay, KZN

• Self-taught.

• Mentored by: Thonton Kabeya (2017)

• First sold out show: RnB Turbine Art Fair (2019)

• Past Exhibitions: Bag Factory, Alliance Française Durban, Candice Berman Gallery

• Also an educator: Leads art workshops at SPARKS Primary School

In 2025, Sibusiso completed the TACS printmaking program and exhibited at Constitution Hill. His print was acquired by key cultural institutions including African Bank, Joburg Arts & Culture, Constitution Hill, and Arts Alive.

About the Exhibition

Artist Walkabout – Don’t Miss!

Date: Wednessday, June 25, 2025

Venue: Constitution Hill

What to expect: Meet the artists. Hear their stories. Walk the exhibition from their lens.

Final Reflection

This isn’t just a show. It’s a declaration.

In the echoes of 1976, today’s artists are carving new paths. They’re not just responding to history—they’re rewriting it. Whether it’s uMalumeWah expressing protest through care, or Sibusiso creating poetic stillness from survival, the message is loud and clear:

The youth are still printing. Still becoming. Still rising.