19.03.21
Love & SEX
Lerato Bereng
Lerato Bereng
Lerato means ‘love’ in Sesotho, a conversation that begins by positioning love in Lerato Bereng’s curatorial work and practice. The episode draws its title and departure from the exhibition SEX she curated in 2016 at Stevenson Gallery, delving into sex in social and political contexts, as well as the interplay of sex and language. The conversation navigates through intricacies of social construction and meaning to contemplate ideas of intimacy, tenderness and love. We question ~ does the overexposure of both love and sex contribute to the establishment of a certain set of ideas in society rather than an open discussion of all the nuances that could lead to deeper understandings of such matters?
Lerato Bereng was born in Maseru, Lesotho and lives and works in Johannesburg. She is a partner at Stevenson gallery, Johannesburg and Cape Town. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Art and a Masters of Fine Art majoring in curating from Rhodes University, Makhanda. Curated projects include SEX, Stevenson Johannesburg (2016); Conversations at Morija (Maeder House, Morija, Lesotho 2017; 2015; 2013); Nine O’Clock, the National Arts Festival, Makhanda(2015); Out of Thin Air (Cape Town, 2012) and Featuring Simplicity as an irrational fear (Cape Town, 2010). From 2008 to 2009 Bereng took part in CAPE Africa Platform's Young Curator's Programme for which she curated Thank You Driver, as part of the Cape ‘09 Biennale. In 2021 Bereng will curate How to make a Country, at FRAC Poitou-Charentes, France, under the umbrella of the Insitut Français’s Africa Season 2020.
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01 SEX, 2016, Stevenson Johannesburg
02 Simon Gush, Sonke Gender Justice, Sisonke Sex Workers Movement and SWEAT, Ask a Sex Worker, 2016, Installation.
03 Simon Gush, Sonke Gender Justice, Sisonke Sex Workers Movement and SWEAT, Decriminalise Sex Work Now, 2016, Mural.
04 Moshekwa Langa, Untitled, 2007 Mixed media on paper.
05 Basotho Women Love Sex Too. Lineo Segoete, 2016
06 Sextme Poems and Stories, Jalada 01, 2014
Lerato Bereng was born in Maseru, Lesotho and lives and works in Johannesburg. She is a partner at Stevenson gallery, Johannesburg and Cape Town. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Art and a Masters of Fine Art majoring in curating from Rhodes University, Makhanda. Curated projects include SEX, Stevenson Johannesburg (2016); Conversations at Morija (Maeder House, Morija, Lesotho 2017; 2015; 2013); Nine O’Clock, the National Arts Festival, Makhanda(2015); Out of Thin Air (Cape Town, 2012) and Featuring Simplicity as an irrational fear (Cape Town, 2010). From 2008 to 2009 Bereng took part in CAPE Africa Platform's Young Curator's Programme for which she curated Thank You Driver, as part of the Cape ‘09 Biennale. In 2021 Bereng will curate How to make a Country, at FRAC Poitou-Charentes, France, under the umbrella of the Insitut Français’s Africa Season 2020.
Frida Orupabo, In bed, 2020, Collage with paper pins. © Frida Orupabo. Courtesy of Stevenson Cape Town, Johannesburg and Amsterdam. (Photo: Mario Todeschini)
01 SEX, 2016, Stevenson Johannesburg
02 Simon Gush, Sonke Gender Justice, Sisonke Sex Workers Movement and SWEAT, Ask a Sex Worker, 2016, Installation.
03 Simon Gush, Sonke Gender Justice, Sisonke Sex Workers Movement and SWEAT, Decriminalise Sex Work Now, 2016, Mural.
04 Moshekwa Langa, Untitled, 2007 Mixed media on paper.
05 Basotho Women Love Sex Too. Lineo Segoete, 2016
06 Sextme Poems and Stories, Jalada 01, 2014