guerilla gallery (b. Johannesburg 2012) is an independent and nomadic curatorial platform in South Africa. It does not have its own bricks and mortar but seeks alternative spaces to facilitate exhibitions, interventions or artistic projects, usually site-specific. It is a non-commercial and artist-led offspace, which manifests on an ad hoc and experimental basis, when it can marshall requisite forces.
A bit of history. This platform is an urban experiment founded and run by Kim Gurney, and initiated in its early days with the help of artist and curator Neil Nieuwoudt. guerilla gallery began life in Johannesburg inner city; it was inspired by scouting for unlikely, disused or make-shift spaces that could potentially be turned to artistic ends. This led to its first project, which activated the wing of a former factory in Doornfontein. The platform in 2013 moved along with its founder to Cape Town but is mobile in nature. The impetus remains to encourage imaginative responses to the urban environment by activating alternative sites and formats, and making these accessible to new audiences. It is also a bit more than that: site is a key medium through which projects are made manifest.
guerilla gallery references in its originating compost the global ‘pop-up’ cultural phenomenon, which harnesses unusual venues to host transient events that are often interdisciplinary and experimental in nature. Specifically, the idea struck during a London visit in a
post-financial crisis world, on passing by a familiar restaurant that had closed down. In its place was a contemporary art installation run by a
roving co-operative which turned an otherwise empty space to creative ends. At the same time, a potential Johannesburg location that was ideal for hosting a guerilla project space in an inner city building fell away, so the solution was borne to create a roving platform instead.
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