Athi-Patra Ruga
South Africa | Performance, Textile, Video
Bold works that challenge and subvert traditional gender norms and explore post-colonial African identity.
Exhibitions
The Future White Women of Azania
2013 - Performa 13, New York, USA
A performance and visual art piece that explores the intersection of identity, nationhood, and mythology in post-apartheid South Africa, featuring Ruga’s alter ego persona.
Of Gods, Rainbows and Omissions
2018 - Zeitz MOCAA, Cape Town, South Africa
A major solo exhibition showcasing Ruga’s works across various media, including performance, tapestry, and sculpture, addressing themes of utopia, mythology, and the complexities of African identity.
A Land Without a People...
2015 - WHATIFTHEWORLD Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa
This solo exhibition included tapestries and performances that delve into the creation of fictional utopias, questioning historical narratives and the construction of national identity.
The Elder of Azania
2014 - Wiener Festwochen, Vienna, Austria
A solo exhibition featuring performances and installations that critique power structures and explore the imagined landscapes of Azania, a utopian version of South Africa.
The BEATification of Feral Benga
2017 - Louis Vuitton Foundation, Paris, France
Part of the exhibition "Art/Afrique, le nouvel atelier," this work was a continuation of Ruga’s exploration of African mythologies, identity, and the legacy of colonialism through performance and tapestry.