Visual Art Tackles the Stagnant - South African Dream at Momentum Aardklop

A collaborative exhibition featuring the work of Diane Victor and Oliver Mayhew is set to open as part of the Momentum Aardklop festival lineup. Titled A South African Dream, the exhibition examines the tension between economic hopes and everyday realities across the country.

Image: Webpage: Momentum Aardklop

Past Exploitation Meets Technological Futures

The core promise of the post-apartheid era was straightforward: earn a degree or trade qualification, find steady work, and lift your household out of poverty. Yet with official unemployment sitting above 32% and youth unemployment climbing past 45%, that trajectory has stalled for millions. South Africa finds itself trapped in an economic waiting room, held back by low investor confidence and sluggish growth.

A South African Dream brings together two distinct artistic voices to unpack this dilemma:

• Diane Victor offers a critique grounded in historical labour dynamics, examining how past growth often came at the expense of worker dignity.

• Oliver Mayhew focuses on the rapid rise of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) and automation.

The exhibition contrasts these viewpoints to pose a sharp question: how does a nation still struggling with basic infrastructure prepare for high-tech disruption without leaving its workforce further behind?

Event Details

Exhibition Momentum Aardklop - A South African Dream

Artists Diane Victor and Oliver Mayhew

Dates 29 September – 3 October 2026

Times 09:00 – 17:00 daily

Venue NWU Gallery, Hoffman Street, Potchefstroom

Admission Free

Work by Diane Victor. Source: The Artists' Press

Work by Oliver Mayhew. Source: Invaluable.com