Cape Town Exhibition brings forgotten stories to life this Heritage Month

A Heritage Month Must-See!

Timed to coincide with Heritage Month, Sisonke Gallery presents the second iteration of A Glimpse Between Memoirs — a poignant joint exhibition by artists Shaunez Benting and Whaleed Ahjum. First shown at the Bo-Kaap Cultural Hub in February 2024, the exhibition now finds a new home at the Cape Heritage Hotel’s Sisonke Gallery, in collaboration with Our Cape Town Heritage (OCTH) and curated by Aaliyah Ahmed.

A Glimpse Between Memoirs explores Cape Malay identity through childhood memories, the legacy of apartheid, and cultural nostalgia. Rather than offering escapism, the exhibition uses memory as a critical lens — confronting misrepresentation and reclaiming heritage through powerful visual storytelling. Benting’s composite works reimagine marginalised spaces from his youth, while Ahjum’s oil paintings draw from his Southeast Asian ancestry to uncover overlooked histories.

Together, their practices weave a layered narrative of resilience, collective identity and cultural reclamation — reminding us how art can challenge the present while honouring the past and envisioning the future.

Presented with the support of House Union Block (HUB), this exhibition forms a vital part of September’s national conversation around identity, memory and transformation.

Exhibition Details:

🖼️ A Glimpse Between Memoirs
📅 Until 28 September 2025
📍 Sisonke Gallery, Cape Heritage Hotel, 90 Bree Street, Cape Town CBD

🔗 More on Sisonke: www.capeheritage.co.za/sisonke-gallery/
🔗 More on HUB: houseunionblock.co.za