Artist Lerato Motaung is presenting a solo exhibition titled "Ga Ke Se Bope, Ga Se Ipope" at the North-West University Main Gallery [1].
The showcase transforms discarded objects into art to examine how physical items carry the weight of human experience. By repurposing second-hand luggage and worn donkey carts, Motaung explores the intersection of migration, labor, and personal history.
The exhibition, also presented as "Ga ke se bope, Ga se ipope: Fragments of what we carry," opened May 20, 2026 [1] at 6 p.m. [1]. It is currently on view at the Potchefstroom Campus in Potchefstroom, South Africa [1].
Motaung's work focuses on giving poetic life to items that have been cast aside. The artist utilizes these fragments to create vessels of meaning, turning the utilitarian nature of a donkey cart or a suitcase into a reflection on the journeys people undertake.
By focusing on the "fragments of what we carry," the installation invites viewers to consider the shared memories embedded in common objects. The choice of materials highlights the contrast between the fragility of memory and the physical durability of the objects that survive the people who owned them.
The North-West University Main Gallery serves as the venue for this exploration of identity and displacement. The installation remains open to the public, providing a space for reflection on the collective histories of the region [1].
“Turning discarded objects into vessels of memory and meaning”
Motaung's use of found objects like donkey carts and luggage situates the work within a broader tradition of social sculpture. By elevating discarded tools of labor and travel to the status of gallery art, the exhibition challenges viewers to recognize the historical and emotional value in the mundane remnants of working-class life.
