When visitors step into Gallery MOMO for Kutlwano Monyai’s debut solo exhibition, Dakalo – The Ultimate Gift, they are not merely viewing art; they are entering a sanctuary of shared human experience.

Unveiled on 17 July 2026, the showcase marks a poignant milestone for the 2024 Absa L'Atelier Art Ambassador, turning raw emotional landscapes into profound visual poetry.

The Vision Behind Dakalo

Dakalo, a Tshivenda word for joy, does not offer a simple escape from pain. Instead, Monyai positions joy as a quiet, courageous practice of returning to hope and connection despite uncertainty.

Through a soulful blend of tactile materials—polyethylene, concrete, wood, and intricately woven crocheted forms—she transforms everyday elements into spaces of solace. The physical textures echo the fragile, beautiful process of stitching a spirit back together, grounding abstract emotion into the familiar warmth of home.

"It is great to see people relate to the work. What is at the heart of this work are the experiences of grief and healing and joy and what that looks like from a point of home in our communities.”

— Kutlwano Monyai

Her creations reveal that sorrow and joy are not opposing forces, but intimate companions. By layering memory and resilience, Monyai invites her audience to reflect on how communities carry and gently reshape their collective histories.

Curator Commentary

Dr. Paul Bayliss, Senior Art and Museum Curator at Absa Group, captured the emotional resonance of the showcase:

"Monyai's work courageously examines the coexistence of grief and joy, demonstrating that healing is rarely linear. Kutlwano has transformed everyday materials into powerful sculptural narratives that offer insight into the human experience; she explores memory, community, and interconnectedness with remarkable sensitivity.

Through ‘Dakalo’, Kutlwano demonstrates that joy is often discovered not in the absence of suffering and pain but through our capacity to rebuild, reconnect, and imagine new possibilities together through an experience we all can recognise."

Highlighting the transformative journey behind the showcase, Dr. Bayliss added:

"Absa L'Atelier Art continues to invest in artists by helping them fast-track their careers. Absa L'Atelier Art aims to create opportunities that are meaningful to artistic growth, professional development, and international visibility. Kutlwano's debut solo exhibition as an Absa L'Atelier Art Ambassador is a powerful example of how the initiative's pillars support developing bold, intellectually rigorous, and socially relevant artists who contribute meaningfully to South Africa's contemporary art landscape."

Ultimately, Dakalo stands as a compassionate reminder that true healing is a collective act—and that even from the depths of grief, beauty and joy can bloom.

Exhibition Details