Expensive Freedom Capetown

"Jabu Goes to Joburg" is part of an ongoing narrative series by Isaac Zavale that delves into the narrative of Jabu, a young man living in a South African township. Longing for adventure beyond the familiar surroundings, Jabu decides to explore the city of Johannesburg. His friends are initially hesitant, but Jabu's determination leads him to the bustling city. However, his excitement takes a dark turn when thieves steal his belongings. In a moment of vulnerability, a kind stranger named Sipho comes to his rescue, helping him report the theft and buying him new shoes. As their friendship grows, Jabu discovers the richness of Johannesburg's culture and the importance of genuine connections. Despite never recovering his stolen items, Jabu gains a profound appreciation for the city and the meaningful relationships he forms along the way.

[Isaac Zavale]
Isaac Zavale (b. 1988 - Maputo, Mozambique) is a Mozambican fine artist and street artist current living in Johannesburg, South Africa. He graduated from the Artist Proof Studio in Johannesburg in 2012 and proceeded to co-found the printmaking studio Prints on Paper (POP) and the Alphabet Zoo zine and printmaking workshops with artist partner Minenkulu Ngoyi. In 2015 he and Ngoyi were invited to be guest lecturers for 3rd-year students for alternative printmaking, zine-making and bookbinding courses at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg.

Zavale's work focuses on the social and political issues in Southern Africa seen through the lens of a Mozambican immigrant. His background in mural painting and sign-writing is evident in his recent bodies of work, mostly consisting of inner-city landscapes that depict honest representations of Johannesburg street scenes, placing a spotlight on how people from all around Africa get to use the space in diverse ways, to create, to operate and to take ownership of the space.

Zavale has participated in numerous exhibitions, both locally and internationally including If Yesterday Was Tomorrow What Is Today, BODE Projects, Berlin (2020 2021); Joni Ya Milenge, Kalashnikovv Gallery, Johannesburg (2020); Alphabet Zoo, Fakugesi African Digital Innovation Festival, Johannesburg (2019); andGRAFIKAMA (Service Peinture) Exposition Collective, Nantes, France (2016).

Instagram: @Zacatwork