A must-see for Heritage Month, the exhibition looks at Cape Malay identity and celebrates two of our favourite things, storytelling and community.
Cape Town (22 August 2025) – If you’re in Cape Town this September, there’s a good reason to make a turn at the popular Bree Street’s Sisonke Gallery.
The space will be hosting ‘A Glimpse Between Memoirs,’ a joint exhibition by artists Shaunez Benting and Whaleed Ahjum that shines a light on Cape Malay heritage, memory, and the layered stories that shape the culture.
Presented with Our Cape Town Heritage and curated by Aaliyah Ahmed, the show runs until the end of September, coinciding with Heritage Month.
Perfect timing to get in touch with SA’s cultural roots through art.
This is the exhibition’s second run, following a successful debut at the Bo-Kaap Cultural Hub earlier this year.
“[The exhibition] explores the tension between history, speculation, and personal narrative. It’s about childhood memories, the echoes of apartheid, and how nostalgia can be more than just a longing for the past. It’s a lens for understanding who we are and how we see our future.”
Benting’s work brings to life the places and moments of his youth with vibrant visuals that blur the line between memory and imagination. Ahjum’s paintings dig deep into his Southeast Asian roots, uncovering the links that are so often left out of mainstream stories.
Together, their art creates a textured depiction of Cape Malay identity. One that’s very much alive in Cape Town.
The exhibit explores themes of self-authorship, misrepresentation, and reclaiming culture.
It’s a conversation-starter about who gets to tell our stories, and how art has the power to both disrupt and heal.
The exhibition is sponsored by House Union Block, a Spier Arts Trust career development programme that creates opportunities for South African artists.
A Glimpse Between Memoirs runs until 28 September at the Sisonke Gallery, Cape Heritage Hotel, 90 Bree Street, in Cape Town.
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