Invisible Thread: RMB Latitudes Art Fair’s INDEX Project Showcases Independent Artists

Tshepo Phokojoe_Pandora’s box_2023_Hessian cloth and found briefcase_100 x 50 x 25cm

RMB Latitudes Art Fair proudly presents the return of INDEX, an annual special project spotlighting the vibrant work of independent artists. Titled Invisible Thread, this year’s edition reaffirms RMB Latitudes’ commitment to accessibility in the arts, offering a vital platform outside the traditional gallery system.

Curated by acclaimed artist Bonolo Kavula, Invisible Thread offers a dedicated space for experimentation, mentorship, and the celebration of new artistic voices. Through INDEX, independent artists are directly connected with audiences, collectors, and gallerists—laying the groundwork for greater visibility and long-term growth.

Tinyiko Makwakwa Reading the musical score in silence 2024 Umbhaco, (Cotton) Imbola (Ocher) and glass beads_1385 x 977 x 68 mm

About Invisible Thread

Invisible Thread brings together eight dynamic artists in a shared exploration of identity, connection, and materiality. Working across diverse media—thread, textiles, sculpture, print, and more—these artists engage in a dialogue that celebrates both vulnerability and process.

Described by Kavula as an “axis of proximity,” the exhibition underscores the thematic overlaps between culture, memory, and selfhood. Central to the project is the concept of scaffolding—a framework of support and mentorship that reflects the ethos of Kavula Art Studio. In this spirit, Kavula collaborates closely with several artists who are exhibiting at an art fair for the first time, offering hands-on guidance across cities to ensure their work is presented with depth and intentionality.

Linda Kachingwe-Sisya, Executive Head of Marketing and Communications: Africa and International at RMB, emphasizes the broader vision:

“RMB’s purpose is to empower diverse talent to be exceptional together for all to thrive. Through initiatives like the RMB Latitudes Art Fair, RMB CuratorLab and RMB Collectors’ Circle, we are proud to provide platforms for emerging artists to grow, connect, and thrive—while fostering ecosystems that support creative and professional development across disciplines.”

Dineo Mafora_Till my insides turn and I am left unafraid_2024_Primed polyester fabric, black ink and black thread_21 x 29,7cm

Meet the Artists of Invisible Thread

Yonela Doda (b.1998, Cape Town): A mixed media artist whose use of collage and thread is informed by catharsis theory, creating works that channel emotion through material.
Thato Makatu (b.2000, Oslo): A printmaker and cultural producer-in-training whose art merges academic insight with a growing curatorial voice.
Tshepo Phokojoe (b.1995, Soweto): Working between fashion and visual art, Phokojoe creates gravity-defying hessian and thread sculptures that explore fabric as structure.
Khanyi Mawhayi (b.1998, Cape Town): An artist and curator crafting a bold visual language of decoloniality and speculative world-building through oil sticks and thread.
Dineo Ponde (b.2001, Johannesburg): Known for intimate ink and thread works on polyester, Ponde’s storytelling begins with writing and unfolds into visual form.
Unathi Mkonto (b.1982, Peddie): Bridging architecture and art, Mkonto’s wooden sculptures draw from African modernism to redefine still life and space.
Tinyiko Makwakwa (b.1984, Johannesburg): A textile artist whose work honours ancestral knowledge through natural dyes, beadwork, and indigenous African storytelling.
Bonolo Kavula (b.1992): Renowned for her innovative use of Shweshwe fabric and thread, Kavula’s abstract printmaking pushes boundaries through repetition and material exploration.

Invisible Thread will be a focal point of this year’s RMB Latitudes Art Fair, offering visitors a rare opportunity to engage with emerging voices who are shaping the future of contemporary art in Africa.

For more information and to book tickets, visit rmb.latitudesartfair.com