“The Horrors of Mzansi Exhibition at VUT brought together student artists, performers, and designers to explore South Africa’s social challenges through powerful creative expression. This landmark event blended art, activism, and commerce, showcasing diverse talents and fostering community support.”
04 November 2025 | Story: Tayron Mhlongo | Photo: Supplied
2 minutes read time.
On the electrifying evening of 31 October 2025, the Vaal University of Technology (VUT)’s Sterling Cafeteria shed its familiar identity, transforming into a pulsating epicentre of creativity and social consciousness. The Horrors of Mzansi Exhibition, a collaborative effort between Behind The Canvas, Fashion Police, and The Yithi Abantu Movement, emerged as a bold cultural statement, where art, activism, and commerce fused into a single, unflinching voice confronting South Africa’s contemporary realities.
Curator Ms Dimpho Lehoko set an evocative tone, describing the showcase as a “mastershow” where painting, photography, animation, and live performance collided in defiant harmony. Her opening remarks went beyond creative admiration, echoing a clarion call for young artists to confront the “horrors” haunting Mzansi with courage, truth, and creative rebellion.
The exhibition brought together a kaleidoscope of talent and mediums, spotlighting VUT students and alumni who demonstrated mastery across painting, sculpture, and photography. Yet, the visual displays were only the beginning. The evening unfolded into a vibrant sequence of performances by Creative Arts, Voices of the Creatives, and The Bantu Talent Hub, weaving sound, movement, and storytelling into an exhilarating celebration of self-expression.
A standout highlight came from animator Gift Sigamu, the creative mind behind the viral online anime series Welcome to Movhango. His work reimagined township life in the Vaal through animation, carving a new space for digital storytelling and creative entrepreneurship within local art circles.
Fashion took centre stage next, as the runway blazed with designs from Prima Clothing, Calvin M, and Dimpho Lehoko’s own collection, each piece merging artistry and social commentary with unapologetic flair. Meanwhile, Behind The Canvas’s “Sip and Paint” corner invited guests to exchange spectatorship for participation, turning the evening into a canvas of shared imagination.
The exhibition’s triumph extended beyond creative boundaries into institutional and commercial success. Representatives from VUT’s Visual Art and Design Department and lecturers from Eduvos attended, endorsing the standard of emerging talent. In a decisive and inspiring move, the Student Life Governance office announced the purchase of eight original artworks, marking a turning point in recognising and investing in student-made art.
In its entirety, The Horrors of Mzansi Exhibition shattered expectations, an extraordinary convergence of performance, visual arts, animation, and fashion that elevated VUT’s creative landscape. It underscored the transformative power of youth-driven, socially conscious artistry in reshaping discourse, community, and culture in South Africa.