Unwanted Fragments
Unwanted Fragments: A Reflection on Letting Go and Becoming
There are moments when art teaches us about life itself. Unwanted Fragments, our recent print exhibition at Madonsela Art House, was one of those moments. It was more than a showcase of prints. It was a quiet journey through surrender, transformation, and the beauty that emerges when we let go of control.
For years, we have celebrated Thokozani Madonsela as a painter. His canvases have told stories of memory, resilience, and spirit. Yet this time, the walls of the studio carried something different. For the first time, we dedicated an exhibition solely to his prints, intimate works that revealed another side of his creative voice. Each piece held the fingerprints of process and patience, fragments of both image and emotion layered into meaning.
The event carried an atmosphere of thought and rhythm. Molefe Thwala led a conversation with Thokozani, guiding the audience into the artist’s world. It was an open dialogue about making, unmaking, and the courage it takes to release what no longer serves the vision. Through their exchange, we saw how unwanted fragments, a phrase borrowed from the world of technology, can also describe the remnants of personal growth. What once felt like waste or failure becomes evidence of becoming.
Among the organisers was Thabo Mshengu, known as Housecatz, who helped bring the event together and also shaped its rhythm as one of the DJs. His sound blended effortlessly with the spirit of the exhibition, carrying that sense of flow and reflection from the artworks into the atmosphere of the room. His dual role behind both the scenes and the decks helped the exhibition unfold with unity and intention.
“What once felt like waste or failure becomes evidence of becoming.”
As the event deepened, the highlight performance came from Malcom Jiyane, a celebrated jazz musician whose presence brought an entirely new dimension to the show. His live set filled the studio with improvisation, soul, and texture, music that breathed the same air as the prints around it. The rhythm of his performance became a dialogue with the artworks, echoing their themes of release and transformation. It was more than sound. It was storytelling through tone and movement, a performance that reminded everyone why jazz remains the music of reinvention.
The night was rounded beautifully by Castro, whose closing DJ set carried the audience gently from reflection into celebration. His selection of tracks tied the entire event together, creating a seamless transition between contemplation and joy.
The exhibition was co-curated by Nkosana Nhlapo and Happy Xaba, with a shared vision to create not just a display but an atmosphere, a living conversation between art, sound, and community. Every wall, every print, every note of music contributed to a sense of renewal.
We are deeply grateful to Reitumetse Mogatla, whose photography captured the essence of the event. Through her lens, every gesture, glance, and fragment of light became part of the story.
For those who joined us, Unwanted Fragments was an event to remember. For those who could not, this post is a small invitation to step into what we experienced, a celebration of process, imperfection, and the beauty of becoming whole through what we once wanted to discard.
As Thokozani’s prints remind us, every fragment has a place. Every step, even the uncertain ones, carries meaning. The art lives not only on the walls but in the quiet recognition that nothing we have lived is ever truly wasted.
