Jamais Vu: Seeing Something New in the Familiar

by Luke Swanepoel

Nsama Chisimba, alias kasocaso, cannot help but to create. Deeper, however, than his need to create is his understanding of his art and the process of creation. The contrast between the meditative repetition in making art and the new creation that remains, revealing unknown aspects of yourself, has urged kasocaso to reflect on the extreme polarities in our lives. 

We, as the balancing point, are responsible for the equilibrium of these elements – what stands at the peripheries of our lives is what guides us to remain centered. When, what has been done countless times before, feels as though it is experienced anew, we are thrown off-balance – into a subtle dissociation. And here kasocaso urges us to reflect on this retroactive unfamiliarity.

“It was in this personal seeking, that I began to try to find the opposites to things. In a way, due to how my mind works, it was a self-reflection of extremes. First in the mundane. Hot vs Cold, Wet vs Dry, Hungry vs Fed. Then in the meaningful, War vs Peace, Drought vs Flood, Good vs Evil. And then it hit me in such a visceral way when I stumbled upon the idea of Jamais Vu.”

Jamais Vu (translating to “never seen”) is an invitation to South African artists to explore these familiar multitudes within ourselves, in uncharted ways. By using the materials they are used to, artists and called to change their perspective, and use them in ways not yet explored. Materials in this sense can be the body, paint, light, sound, pencils – which can each be warped into something new.

“The Opposite of Deja Vu, It speaks to the experience of doing something that you’ve done over and over again, and then suddenly it feels new and unfamiliar, almost casting a sense of unease over the experiencer of the feeling.”

Through the balance of theme and task, Jamais Vu becomes the ethos of the show, scheduled for early July, where 25 artists will showcase their work. Although this is a call towards individuals, the true depth of the exploration of opposites can only be seen in the format of a group exhibition.

“This inspired the idea for the show, as I have also seen this feeling in other artists works, those close in community. So, I intend to connect these unseen threads to create a show that brings innovative and impactful art, made by living contemporary South African artists, to an audience ( the youth ) that I believe is eager to experience something new”

An open invitation that asks artists to seek for “something new in the familiar”, as kaso puts it, and in the same breath for the public to engage with their inner opposites through the experience of participation. 

Submissions close the 15th of July 2025. Click this link to find out more: