Many Libuta’s provocative new exhibition The Red Apple opens in Cape Town in June

With some governments rolling back climate protections at an alarming pace, the question of how human choices affect the planet has never felt more critical. Against this global backdrop, celebrated Congolese-born South African-based artist Many Libuta presents a timely new solo exhibition, The Red Apple.

Libuta describes the show as a visual meditation on temptation and environmental consequence. It draws on the biblical story of Adam and Eve – not to moralise but to reframe the ancient metaphor in light of modern ecological collapse. The recurring motif of the suspended red apple becomes a silent question hanging before each viewer: what temptations do we resist or surrender to in our daily environmental choices? ‘Humanity exists not separate from nature but as an integrated, dependent extension of it,’ Libuta says. ‘When we destroy nature, we destroy ourselves.’

This is the artist’s second major solo exhibition in Cape Town, following his acclaimed 2022 show Women and Nature, at AVA Gallery in Cape Town, which focused on the vital role women play in environmental stewardship. While the previous body of work featured celestial skies and feminine subjects, The Red Apple takes a more grounded and urgent tone.

Libuta curated the exhibition himself, selecting works that serve as ‘individual messages’ within a larger narrative about environmental responsibility. ‘Through my work, I want visitors to feel how deeply we are connected with nature and understand that harming the environment is ultimately an act of self-destruction,’ he explains.

The Red Apple runs from 5 to 31 July at Sisonke Gallery in the Cape Heritage Hotel, 90 Bree Street, Cape Town. Admission is free and open to the public. The opening is on Wednesday 4 June at 17:30.

About the artist

Born with an innate talent for visual expression, Many Libuta’s journey began when his father recognised his gift and enrolled him in art school, where he developed his technical skills and deepened his appreciation for art history. What started as childhood drawing evolved into a profound artistic mission centred on environmental conservation and the intricate bond between humans and the natural world.

Libuta works primarily with acrylic on canvas, a medium he prefers for its quick-drying properties that accommodate his creative process. His style, influenced by the Surrealist movement and particularly by Salvador Dalí, offers viewers a dreamlike yet impactful perspective on environmental conservation.

For more information about Sisonke Gallery and its exhibitions, visit https://www.capeheritage.co.za/sisonke-gallery/ or follow @sisonke.gallery on Instagram.

Exhibition details

• The Red Apple – A solo exhibition by Many Libuta
• Opening: Wednesday 4 June at 17:30
• Exhibition dates: 5–31 July
• Venue: Sisonke Gallery, Cape Heritage Hotel, 90 Bree Street, Cape Town