Joe Madisia
b. 1954, Luderitz Namibia.
A veteran artist who specialises in printmaking, sculpture and mixed media.
This video was produced in 2015 by Namibian Visual Artist Joe Madisia as part of his ART exhibition and book launch titled: “AFRICAN PARADOX – Experienced in Namibia” held at Franco Namibian Cultural Centre in Windhoek in September.
Education
1983: Attended “ECC” Evening classes.
Employment
2001: Acting Director - John Muafangejo Arts Centre. Katatura.Windhoek, Namibia.
2000: Lecturer - Arts Management and Development. National Government.
1991: Art Workshop Coordinator - Franco Namibian Cultural Centre, Windhoek.
1987: Media Technologist - Academy for Tertiary Education, Namibia.
1983 Reprographic and photographic staff - “Namib Advertising and Public Relations” advertising agency.
1978: Senior Operator Instructor/Supervisor - Rossing Uranium Mine, Swakopmund.
Positions held
2001: Assisted in arranging the 1st National Conference on Art and Culture Policy in Namibia.
2001: Board of Directors member. Franco Namibian Cultural Centre.
2001: Team member of the Technical Committee for establishing Katutura Community Arts Centre, Windhoek, Namibia.
2000: Facilitator - SADC Arts and Culture – theory workshop at GOP.
2000: Member of committee for National Standard Setting Body for Arts and Culture, Namibia.
1994: Founder member of the “Tulipamwe International Artist’s Workshop”, Namibia.
1993: Member of Technical Committee - Namibian monetary currency, Bank of Namibia.
1990: Member of National Symbols Technical Sub-Committee, Namibia.
1990: Member of the greater steering committee for the establishment of the National Art Gallery of Namibia.
Solo Exhibitions (Namibia)
2024: Visual Art Narratives at the Coast, Woermannhaus Gallery in Swakopmund
2023: Printmaking Expressions, Franco-Namibian Cultural Centre (FNCC), Windhoek.
2015: African Anthologies.
2010: Franco Namibian Cultural Centre – “Quarter of Century Black &White Printmaking”
Retrospective of Black & White prints 1985 – 2010. Windhoek, Namibia.
2005: Franco Namibian Cultural Centre. Windhoek, Namibia.
2000: National Art Gallery of Namibia – “Retrospective 1982 - 2000 ”. Windhoek, Namibia.
1995: National Art Gallery of Namibia – “Impressions of Walvis Bay". Windhoek, Namibia.
1994: “Walvis Bay, Namibia” Exhibition.
1991: Commercial Bank Foyer (today Nedbank) – Bulow Str. Windhoek, Namibia.
1991: Exhibition of Cardboard Prints in colour. “Loft” Gallery. Windhoek, Namibia.
1990: Impression of India. “Artelier Kendzia” – Windhoek, Namibia.
1990: Exhibition that coincides with the launch of Legal Assistance Human Rights Calendar for
which Madisia’s lino prints were used at: Council of Churches Hall in Katutura. Windhoek, Namibia.
1989: Die Muschel Gallery. Swakopmund, Namibia.
1983: SWABANK – Swakopmund. Namibia.
1982: AMA Gallery. Windhoek, Namibia.
Group Exhibitions (Namibia)
2024: The fish that sees its water getting shallow cannot be stranded, at the Franco-Namibian Cultural Centre (FNCC), Windhoek.
2023: The History of the AAHT and NAA, Namibian Arts Association, Windhoek.
2016: Celebrating Namibian Printmaking, FNCC Gallery, Windhoek.
2015: Bipolar Dreams, Fine Art Gallery, Swakopmund.
2013: The third Annual Visual Art Museum Programme Exhibition opened last week at the
National Art Gallery of Namibia.
2009: “Sculptures in Space” at Franco Namibian Cultural Centre. Windhoek, Namibia.
2003: Group exhibition with artists: Max Katschuna, Shikongeni at NAGN. Windhoek, Namibia.
1997: “Ondambo” International Artists Conference/Workshop Exhibition at NAGN. Windhoek, Namibia.
1995: Standard Bank Namibia Biennial. Windhoek, Namibia.
1994: Tulipamwe International Artists Workshop. National Art Gallery of Namibia. Windhoek.
1994: Koos van Ellinckhuijsen & Joe Madisia. Woerman Haus Gallery. Swakopmund, Namibia.
1992: Joe Madisia and Friends. Franco Namibian Cultural Centre. Windhoek, Namibia.
1990: Malo Hoebel & Joe Madisia at Woermann Haus Gallery. Swakopmund, Namibia.
1986: “Namibia Art Today”. Arts Association of Namibia (NAGN). Windhoek, Namibia.
1985: Standard Bank Art Biennale. Windhoek, SWA/Namibia.
1984: “Namibia Art Today”. Arts Association of Namibia. National Art
Gallery of Namibia (NAGN). Windhoek, Namibia.
1983: Luderitz Centenary Festival Exhibition with Bill Parker. Lüderitz, Namibia.
Group Exhibitions (International)
2012: “Made in Africa – Towards Cultural Liberation” at Sandton Gallery, Nelson Mandela Square on 24 May.
2009: “Dialogue among Civilizations” Art for Human Rights exhibition at University of Technology – Durban, South Africa.
2004: “Generation of Namibian Printmakers” travelling exhibition to Burundi, Comoros Islands, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa by Namibia Artists – Alliance Française project.
2003: „Omaheke“, zeitgenössische Graphik aus Namibia – Tecklenburg, Deutschland.
2001: “Break the Silence” Artist for Human Rights Trust billboard exhibition at University
of Technology – Durban, South Africa.
1995: “Thapong International Artists’ Workshop” Exhibition at National Art Museum –Gaborone, Botswana.
1995: “11th International Print Biennial” – Frederikstad, Norway (catalogued).
1995: “21st International Print Biennial” – Ljubljana, Slovenia (catalogued).
1995: “Right to Hope” Trust International travelling exhibition - Worldwide.
(Commemoration of United Nations’ 50th Anniversary) – New York (catalogued).
1994: “Namibian Artists” Exhibition at Grahamstown Art Festival – South Africa
(catalogued).
1994: “22nd São Paulo Biennale” – Sao Paolo, Brazil (catalogued).
1991: Joe Madisia and John Liebenberg – “Aphone Gallery” L’Usine. – Geneva, Switzerland.
1991: “Namibian Artists” at Baxter Gallery – Cape Town, South Africa.
1991: “Namibian Art” at Volksbank – Trossingen, Germany.
1990: SADC Visual Art Exhibition – Gaborone, Botswana.
1990: Africa Day Festival Exhibition at Pragati Maidan Centre – New Delhi, India.
Exchange programs
2009: UNESCO workshop on the protection of National Heritage.
2007: Cologne, Germany, official opening of an archaeological exhibition titled “ In the Shade of the Acacia” at the “Rauschenstrauch –Joest Museum.
2007: Fellowship - Historical and Contemporary Art Museums in Washington, Baltimore, Fort Worth, Dallas, San Diego, Indianapolis and New York.
2007: Conference- Luanda, Angola, organised by UNAP (Union of Angolan Plastic Arts).
2007: Invitation to Caracas in Venezuela to participate in the African Conference of Latin American and African Countries; South Africa, Mali, Ghana, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Senegal, Angola, Niger, Cuba, Colombia, Brazil, Paraguay.
2000: Goethe-Institut, Berlin Curation and Museum Conference.
1994: Bremen - “Praktische Solidarität von Volk zu Volk.
1993: Exchange programme and exhibition with artist: Zigi Harder, Ravensburg, Germany.
1993: Exchange Programme and exhibition with artist: Dagman Staurheim, Hågå -Aus- Torpa, Norway.
1991: Zurich and Geneva – Switzerland – Spent three weeks with Zimbabwean artists, playwrights and musicians.
1990: New Delhi – India – Spent one month with fellow Africans from the continent.
Publications
2004: Namibian – PM’s Birthday Supplement – 23 January; Q&A with the PM. Pg.8
2004: “The Concept of Progress in Different Cultures”. A cooperative conference project of Goethe-Institut, Deutsche Gessellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit and Namibian Economic Policy Unit. ISBN 99916-16-68-14-4.
2003: “Omaheke –Getrennte Vergangenheit – Gemeinsame Zukunft – Zeitgenossische Grafik aus Namibia” Kerstin-A. Hempker – Kirchenkreise Steinfurt-Coesfeld-Borken und Tecklenburg. Martin Rehkopp – Kulturforum Rheine. Druckerei Rennemeier – Rheine.
2009: “Secret Namibia”. Lily and Marcel Jouve. ISBN 978 1 77007 649 5.
2010: “John Ndevasia Muafangejo – Etchings, woodcuts and linocuts from the Collection…” ©Arts Association Heritage Trust. ISBN 978-99945-71-11-6.
2009: “Posters in action” – “Visuality in the Making of an African Nation.” Edited by Giorgio Miescher, Lorena Rizzo and Jeremy Silvester: Basler-Afrika Bibliographien. ISBN 978-3-905758-09-2.
2005: Allgemeine Zeitung: 25. Februar, pg. 11.
2004: “Insight, Namibia” November 2004. Ed.: Tangeni Amupadhi and Robin Sherbourne: ISBN 1812-9943.
2000: “ Different perspectives – SADC 2000 Lecture Series”. Capital Press (PTY) Ltd. ISBN 99916-50-70-x.
2000: “Ondambo – Afrika Kunst Forum”. H.Bogatzke, R.Brokmann, C.Ludziweit– Gamsberg Macmillan. . ISBN 99916-0-211-9.
1997: “Printmaking in a transforming South Africa”. Phillipa Hobbs & Elizabeth Rankin. National Book Printers, Drukkery Street, Goodwood, Western Cape. ISBN 0 86486 334 9.
1997: “Art in Namibia” - National Art Gallery of Namibia. Adelheid Lilienthal. ISBN 99916 30 73 2.
1995: “The Right to Hope”. Essay - “A Creative Response to our World in Need”. Edited by Catherine Thick. ISBN 1-85383-39-6.
1992: Revue Noire – Art Contemporain Africain. ISSN 1157-4127.
1992: The Windhoek Advertiser; Saterday - 8 August; pg.60. “Joe Madisia & Friends”.
1991: Namibia Today; 25-31 October; page 19: “The power of arts”.
1985: The Namibian; Friday 30 August; page 27: Live Arts.- “Artist with a conscience”.
African Paradox: Experienced in Namibia, Joe Modisia
Other
2011: Art and Social Justice workshop, Ziphathele Secondary, Clermont, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
2011: Art for Humanity workshop, Chesterville Secondary School, Durban, South Africa.
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