/ 30 March 2020

Get your quarantine on — the best in virtual entertainment

Erykah Badu (Tony Krash)
Catch artists like Erykah Badu, DJ Shimza, Little Dragon, DJ Zinhle, Quest Love and others online at anytime. (Tony Krash)

With South Africans all, hopefully, on lockdown, (as is much of the world) and days drag into weeks, some of the best in local and international artists are ensuring that the show goes on. 

They’re bringing live entertainment right into your living room via Facebook, YouTube and Instagram. So, get dressed or stay in your pyjamas — the Mail & Guardian brings you the best virtual entertainment around. 

Please note: we will continually be updating this post, so do bookmark this page and come back regularly for more.  

Performances

Centre for the Less Good Idea Season 7

Curated by Phala O Phala and William Kentridge, the Centre For the Less Good Idea’s Season 7 is set to premier online in response to the lockdown. The Season is made up of five programmes, which will include a total of 18 pieces that will either be theatre performances or video installations.

Little Dragon 

DJ Shimza

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SinSbDWRAqs

DJ Zinhle

Kabza de Small & DJ Maphorisa

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGj62YNlZVs

D-Nice 

Questlove 

James Blake

Miley Cyrus and Demi Lovato 

Diplo 

Chloe x Halle

Miguel 

https://www.instagram.com/tv/B-D2fJPlamd/?utm_source=ig_embed

Noah Cyrus

https://www.instagram.com/tv/B-No4zJF_JO/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

H.E.R

https://www.instagram.com/tv/B-LQrH8lbpn/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Jennifer Hudson 

https://www.instagram.com/tv/B-LLlfslR6z/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Ziggy Marley 

https://www.instagram.com/tv/B-GKfDaljKF/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Chris Martin

https://www.instagram.com/tv/B94gO-Vl2FG/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

John Legend

https://www.instagram.com/tv/B96yZg5FN09/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Erykah Badu 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1tNa2Z_5EA

Mandisi Dyantyis

Galleries

Lumières d’Afriques at Standard Bank Art Gallery (Virtual Tour)

Founded by African Artists for Development in 2015, Lumières d’Afriques is a travelling exhibition that depicts and discusses the challenges faced by the residents of a developing continent. Before coming to South Africa the exhibition made its rounds in Paris, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Ethiopia, Switzerland, Germany and Morocco. The exhibition consists of 54 art works from 54 artists including  Aïda Muluneh, Athi-Patra Ruga, Ermias Ekube, Cyrus Nganga Kabiru and Paul Sika. 

Blue Is the Warmest Colour at BKhz (Virtual tour) 

Now located in Johannesburg after its stay at the pop-up BKhz gallery in Cape Town, this group exhibition takes its title from the 2013 French film of the same name. Considering Pablo Picasso’s melancholic blue period Blue Is The Warmest Colour explores the dynamics of the colour and how it is used in contemporary art by the likes of Yves Klein. The exhibition includes works by Vusi Beauchamp, Lunga Ntila, Nkhensani Mkhari, Nelson Makamo, Tatenda Chidora, Nobukho Nqaba, Oratile Papi Konopi, Cole Ndelu, Justice Mukheli and Jamal Nxedlana.

How to Disappear at Goodman Gallery (Slideshow)  

When viewing this exhibition, keep the prevalence of surveillance, which ranges from public spaces to the accumulation of digital data, in mind. The artists question how and to what extent this surveillance renders human beings as visible and visualised subjects. The exhibition features work by Ewa Nowak, Broomberg & Chanarin, Mary Wafer, David Goldblatt, Ja’Tovia Gary, Hyun-Sook Song, mounir fatmi, Jeremy Wafer, Kahlil Joseph and Nolan Oswald Dennis.

Museums

The Norval Foundation collection (Instagram videos)

Using 60-second video clips, everyday the private museum will take a look at an artist or artwork that forms a part of their Homestead Collection or their current exhibitions. The clips include casual and accessible narration by the museum’s staff. Videos that have already been posted include Michael Armitage, William Kentridge, Jody Paulsen, Jackson Hlungwani, Irma Stern and Cyprian Shilakoe. 

Zeitz Museum of Contemporary African Art (audio tours)

While they set up their virtual 3D tours, close your eyes and visualise the descriptions made in the museum’s audio tours. You can expect to hear about a range of artists, including William Kentridge, Nicholas Hlobo, Taiye Idahor, Lungiswa Gqunta, Zanele Muholi, El Anatsui and Gareth Nyandoro. 

Louvre Museum

Visit Paris while at home by visiting the virtual version of the museum’s numerous galleries. The Louvre is offering virtual tours of parts of the museum including The Advent of the Artist in the Petite Galerie, the Egyptian antiques collection on the ground and first floor, Galerie d’Apollon, as well as the remains of the Louvre’s moat that dates back to the time when the Louvre was a fortress for King Philippe Auguste (1180 to 1223).

The Metropolitan Museum of Art 360° Project (3D video tours) 

Through a series of six videos, The Met gives a 360° look at their architectural feats. You can have a look at the Met’s architecture and collections, including the Great Hall, the Temple of Dendur, the Charles Engelhard Court and the arms and armor galleries. If you can’t find it on the online collection, The Met has partnered with the Google Cultural Institute to make more of their rooms available from the comfort of your digital device. 

Workshops and classes 

Rupi Kaur writing workshop 

Canadian poet and author of Milk and Honey, Rupi Kaur, took to social media to share her writing skills. During the workshop you will write three poems, a letter and a sonnet — and then get to hear some of the participants recite their work. 

Virtual connection apps

Whether it’s a formal meeting or a virtual way of staying connected with loved ones, these video conference calls have gained popularity since the advent of social distancing. 

HouseParty

Google Hangouts

Zoom

Film festival

Five Films For Freedom

“Self-expression, homophobia in rural communities, coming out as a teenager, and finding love later in life — this year’s short films (selected from the British Film Institute’s Flare programme) look at an intersection of LGBTIQ+ perspectives to explore love and acceptance.”