Arcade 2023

Arcade2023 rerouted monuments through live art as 11 artists from across the country occupied Makhanda’s Monument (formerly the 1820 Settlers National Monument in Grahamstown) in a constellation of long durational performances. The various galleries, theatre spaces, archive rooms, dressing rooms, smoking booths and passageways comprising the two basement levels of the Monument were destabilised and reimagined through live art performances, interventions and activated installations. Occurring over six hours, the artists and artworks questioned, provoked and subverted current realities in order to postulate and consider alternatives. Audiences were invited to engage with the various performances within the Arcade between 2pm and 8pm on Friday 24 March 2023, as they wished and for as long as they wished.

Artists and artworks included:

The Internet Dreams of Arthur by Axl Forder

Not Yet Dead by Carbon

Eden and Luke by Luke Rudman

Theatre in the Muck: Un-trashing the future by Obusitswe “Birdking” Seage

I am also here by Qondiswa James

Sitting Piece by Rafé Luke Green

Memorabilia by Martinique Kotze

Base/ment by Christelle Futshane, Lethabo Makweya, Teresa Willoughby and Thabile “Terry” Rala-rala

Curated by Gavin Krastin

Dramaturgical support by Alan Parker

Project management by Raphaela Linders

Programme and poster design by Rat Western

Special thanks to the National Arts Council of South Africa, the Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme and the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture for supporting Arcade2023.

Press:

Profile: Arcade2023 – Never in your life… | The Critter, 19 March 2023

Performance art to breathe life into Monument | Dispatch Live, 22 March 2023