Place-making: visual stories of Bag Factory Art
This is a series of reportage drawings I created during my stay in Johannesburg from January 11th, 2024, to January 30th. Over 16 days, I engaged in direct observational drawing, documenting the people, spaces, and social activities at Bag Factory Art and Fordsburg. My aim was to tells a story of the place’s narrative. Considering the project’s brief duration and the rich diversity in the place, I don’t believe I fully captured the essence of the place to represent the full narrative. So, I want to emphasize that these drawings reflect my personal experience and interpretation of Bag Factory Art. They offer a glimpse into my understanding of the space during my time there and I hope they inspire other outsiders like myself to explore this place in their own way.
What is this place?
What is the story of this place?
Bag Factory Art – Buckets
21.1 x 29.8 cm
Mixed media (Acrylic paint marker, wax crayon and drawing inks)
on Canson mi teintes paper
2024
My First Day of Bag Factory Art
I arrived at Bag Factory Art on a very rainy day. It was
also the first opening day after a long holiday break in 2023. My first encounter with Bag Factory Art was greeted with unexpected scene: the main exhibition room was full of buckets, and the sounds of water dropping were everywhere. While I was sketching this unexpected scene, the artist, Nyakallo Malke was giving a walking tour around her current exhibition (‘Making Sense of the Same Story: 30.11.2023 – 09.02.2024’) to the visitors of the gallery.
It was definitely one of my favourite encounters of this place. Watching the artists, vistors, bag factory staffs walking around the buckets. This really makes me a wonder what is Factory is all about.
Bag Factory Art Interior (Studio 10, 12)
53.5 x 18.3 cm
Acrylic paint markers, coloured pencil, Acrylic ink
on Arch watercolour paper rough 185g
2024
Bag Factory Art Interior (Studio 10, 12)
53.5 x 18.3 cm
Acrylic paint markers, coloured pencil, Acrylic ink
on Arch watercolour paper rough 185g
2024
Nala Xaba, Bag Factory Artists’ Studio’s Programs Manager, gave a short tour and background insights on the non-profit organization. Serving as a collaborative platform for local and international artists, the Bag Factory offers studio spaces and various programs like artist residencies and workshops. The interior is intriguing, featuring 18 studios arranged in zig-zag shapes, blending minimalist modernity with the rustic factory aesthetic. The space, once a factory, retains high ceilings, exposed pipes, and wooden frames, with unique additions like giant metal doors and an old coin-operated public telephone alongside artworks, contributing to Bag Factory Art’s distinctive atmosphere.
Juxtapose factory and artistic aesthetics
Coin Telephone Inside of Bag Factory Art
13.5 x 14.9 cm
Wax Crayons on Canson mi teintes paper
2024
Bag Factory Art Front view
56.7 x 38 cm
Acrylic paint markers, coloured pencil, Acrylic drawing ink on Arch Watercolour paper rough 185g
2024
Young and Unframed Residency Programme: This is one of Bag Factory Art Programmes that was running while I was sketching around the Bag. This programmed paired emerging artists and curators to prepare a solo exhibition to equip them with practical experience and mentorship. Zinhle is also the programme manager of Bag Factory Art and she is in charge of this programme. Noceba Dwanya (artist) and Amina Malatji (the curator) are waiting for Zinhle for the follow up meeting.
Artists and their studio space
I was fortunate enough to meet some studio artists, and they allowed me to sketch them and their studio space. Each artist has their own unique view of the world and approach to their practice, and their studio possesses its own distinct personality.
Artist Studio 4
Kagiso Patrick “Pat” Mautloa is a multi-media visual artist who has been with The Bag Factory Art since the concept of studio sharing was introduced in 1991. Pat is one of the longest-standing studio artists at The Bag Factory. I was glad to have met him before he flew out of the country for his overseas residency program. He used to be an ex-banker, working for SABC for 12 years as a graphic designer.
Artist Studio 5
Nonceba is one of the selected artists for the Young and Unframed Residency program. I sketched her tearing off some of collage papers on her paintings for her solo exhibition on January 27, 2024. Her studio is filled with large canvases displaying beautiful artworks. In the center of her studio, there is a giant cushion where she can rest when working late into the night.
Artist Studio 6
Joe Turpin
When I entered Joe Turpin’s studio, the first thing I noticed was the scent of incense wafting through the air (I wish I had sketched his incense holder!). Joe is a very interesting and outspoken artist. His work focuses on initiating conversations about social-historical contexts. He showed me his collection of books and then suddenly began reading a book in French while I sketched his space. His artistic practice revolves around referencing history and identity, which is why there are many reference books in his studio. Joe’s every statements made me re-think about what’s happening in this worlds.
Artist Studio 16
Nyakallo Maleke‘s solo exhibition, “Making Sense of The Same Story,” was on display at Bag Factory Art while I sketched on-site. Her artworks reimagine the practice as a more intuitive and expressive form of communication, utilizing various mixed media. Her studio is full of drawings, some on fabrics with markers, or papers. While I sketched her and her studio, Nyakallo multitasked, managing administrative duties on her laptop and planning the installation of a floating table for another artwork. Alongside her artistic pursuits, she finds joy in cycling with a group around town, evident by the presence of bikes in her studio.
LL Editions - Fine Art Lithography Studio
Lithography Press
29.8 x 21 cm
Mixed media (Acrylic paint marker, wax crayon and coloured pencil) on Canson mi teintes paper
2024
Another section of Bag Factory Art is shared by LL Editions, a printing lab, and framing studio established by Leshoka Joe, who is also an artist and print master. Joe aimed to create a collaborative space for printing makers to explore new printing techniques and the image-making process. LL Editions also provides framing services. In addition to Joe, LL Editions has two team members, Boitumelo Gaotlhaelwe (Print Assistant), and Matthews Makoglitho (Frame Technician). During my on-site drawing, I was unable to capture their printmaking process in the studio however I was able to capture how the team make a frame for the artwork.
Morso Mitter Cutting Machine
24.9 x 16.2 cm
Mixed media (Acrylic paint marker and wax crayon) on Canson mi teintes paper
2024
The Morso Mitter Cutting machine is used to cut frames at an angle to connect the frame. Matto primarily handles the measuring and cutting and Boitumelo assists him.
People behinds of Scene
Bag Factory Arts is not only a space for artists but also a space for individuals from various professional backgrounds to work together in supporting artists, managing the studio space, and preparing exhibitions. Especially in the administrative office, teams ensure the smooth operation of this creative space. Staff members were having a team meeting in the room nearby the storage area. Everyone was seated around San-Mari, the archivist of Bag Factory.
Maria (Director)
Maria is one of the key decision-maker at Bag Factory Art. She always goes through daily activities with the teams at the office in the morning.
Nala & Zinhle are working at the office and having a zoom meeting with Primerose (Artist)
Nala and Zinhle are program managers. They curate and manage the Bag Factory Art Program. They are also the main people who communicate with the artists to successfully organize the artists’ exhibitions
Katlego (New intern started in January 2024) and Thalente (Programmes Assistant Intern) changing the light bulbs in the studio.
Katlego and Thalente are interns helps out Nala and Zinhle with any extra supports
The photographer is taking a picture of the painting for a catalogue and promotional purposes.
Spec is one of Bag Factory Art’s studio artists, but he also installs many of the Bag Factory Art exhibitions. He was assisting with Nonceba’s exhibition installation.
A place for visitors to learn and experience.
Tiny houses and horizons workshops was facilitated by Tateenda Magaisa on 20th of January 2024. This was a public drawing workshops explores the practice of drawing to be more intuitive and experimental. Participants (vistors) were sitting or laying down on the floor of
What is outside of Bag Factory Art looks like?
Who are the community?
The outside of Bag Factory Art is an action-filled space, with lots of different noises coming from taxis hooting, loud generators running during load shedding, and people speaking different languages as they walk on the street. One thing that is evidently noticeable is how the space is characterized by the Muslim community. I think the Hamidia Masjid Mosque and Oriental Plaza are the historical and cultural landmarks of the community.
I was sketching from Jennings Street, which shows the white tall tower of the mosque standing out from other old rustic buildings. My first impression of Hamidia Mosque is a quiet, isolated, lonely alleyway with a beautifully white mosque. While I was sketching, a Muslim lady walked up to me and told me that this mosque is about 100 years old, and her daughter is also an artist. She also recommended me to sketch the mosque on Friday to see how the place turns into the center for Islamic activity.
Every Friday, many shops in the area close from 11:30 am to 2:00 pm for prayer. People walk towards Hamidia Masjid Mosque, creating beautiful waves of people. On the left-hand side, lines of people sit on the pavement, waiting for the prayers to hand out some food as they proceed to the mosque.
Pedestrains outside of Bag Factory Art
Short sketches captured the scene just outside of Bag Factory Art. There are various pedestrians walking by, with many people wearing different Islamic clothing, bin scratcher carrying big trash bags, street food vendors carrying their food on their head, and some ladies walking with umbrellas on the sunny day.
The street outside of Bag Factory Art is not the most cleanest and well look after area. There are quite bits of liters, vandalised cables, cigarrettes on the street.
Oriental Plaza
The Oriental Plaza is the central business spot in the community. Inside the plaza, there are numerous individually owned small businesses.
One of my artist friends, Fiver from Lilian Road Studio, mentioned how Oriental Plaza became a business center in the area. Many non-white business owners were forcefully removed from the central city during apartheid. Oriental Plaza was established to provide a space for those many displaced business owners, mainly Indians, to continue their trade.
I really like the shops in Oriental Plaza: the spices, delicious samosas, colorful fabric shops, and stores selling eastern clothes.
Oriental Plaza
21.1 x 29.8 cm
Mixed media (acrylic paint marker, wax crayon, coloured pencil) on Canson mi teeintes paper
2024
Businesses in Oriental plaza
Street food vendors
There are many street food vendors outside of Factory Art. Across the street from Bag Factory Art, there are numerous vendors from different parts of Africa, such as Malawi and Zimbabwe. I sketched two street food vendors, Iness and Khadija. Iness sells delicious Fat Cakes (a type of fried dough), and Khadija sells rice samosas, which are very different from the normal samosas that I know. They resemble fat cakes, but are filled with cooked rice. I always see these two ladies in the morning carrying their food bucket to sitting right across from the Bag Factory Art.
Fordsburg Market on Mint rd
00 x 00 cm
Mixed media (Acrylic paint markers, wax crayon, coloured pencil, watercolour) on Arch watercolour rough paper 185g
2024
Reflection...
My experience at Bag Factory Arts gave me insights into the collaborative effort is continuously required for artists and publics engagement. I truly appreciated the collaborative environment fostered by Bag Factory Art and was amazed by the creative diversity within the space. I’d like to highlight my experience with Nyakallo’s idea of cycling with a group of cyclists around the city. It was a refreshing way to re-experience the city and reclaim the space from our preconceived notions of the area. In South Africa, people are often exposed to violence and crime, leading to a disconnection from the places we live. The decay of the city and our surrounding areas can make us less empathetic towards our neighborhood and people different from us. I hope we don’t end up like the 3-meter-tall Sandton Walls, where people are separated from the world around them. I encourage others to explore their own surroundings in their own ways, whether it’s through cycling or sketching.
