THIS week MuseumAfrica was awash with arty types who came to the opening of what is a must-see exhibition.

THIS week MuseumAfrica was awash with arty types who came to the opening of what is a must-see exhibition.

In a veiled reference to the media's negativity about Africa, particularly the Western media, Wits academic Thembinkosi Goniwe said the continent was far more complex than the media was making out.

Goniwe, curator of the exhibition that will run until July 11, said Africa was more than physical space. He said Africa was represented by her artists on other continents too.

"There is a diaspora Africa. African artists in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the UK, to name but a few," he said.

"Europe is also represented in Africa by artists who originated on that continent but who now work in Africa.

"Africa is beautiful and it is this side of Africa that has not been shown. This exhibition is about beauty, intimacy and pleasure."

Called SPace: Currencies in Contemporary African Art, the title alludes to and embodies space and pace, which signify sites/contexts and tempos/energies that are part of societal make-up.

"Currencies refer not only to movement fluidity or rhythm, but also to currency of an economic nature," Goniwe said.

Participating artists include Berni Searle, Willem Boshoff, Gabrielle Goliath, Mary Sibande, Alison Kearney, Zen Marie, Nandipha Mntambo, David Koloane, Berry Bickle, Godfried Donkor, Dominique Zinkpa , James Muriuki, Arlene Wandera, Nathalie Bikoro, Miriam Syowia Kyambi, Kudzanai Chiurai, Imad Mansour, El Hassan Echair and Abdul, Razaq Awofeso.