Second Spier Outdoor Sculpture Biennale
by Paul Edmunds
It's been 18 months since the inaugural Spier Outdoor Sculpture Biennale and preparations for the second is getting underway. The Spier Estate, just outside Stellenbosch, is once again hosting the event. Cape Town-based public art collective Public Eye is running the event in conjunction with the Spier Arts Trust who were partners first time around. The event is set to take place mid-January, 2004.
The first Biennale was tiered in structure with invited artists - Deborah Bell, Willie Bester, David Brown and Bruce Arnott - showing existing works on the grounds. They were joined by a varied group of artists who were chosen in a selection process by judges, who included sculptor Kevin Brand and landscape artist Strijdom van der Merwe. In addition to this, Pro Helvetia sponsored Swiss artist Urs Twellmann, who produced a gorgeous work on the site. This structure will remain for the 2004 event, although it's still unclear whether there will be an international invitee.
Looking back on 2002's contributors, they included recent art school graduates, fairly well known artists and at least one person who had never before made a sculpture. This latter person was Susan Reid, whose Matrix - a large red structure framing a picture-book view across the lake - still remains on site. Highlights for me were Jo O'Connor's Gardenism - a very convincing fake plant recreation of a lush, verdant flowerbed - and Nicole Meyer's Custom Made 2002. This work comprised a series of timer-operated flexible lawn sprinklers made to look like the bulrushes of Spier's logo. Intermittently these danced wildly, sending jets of water arcing across the manicured lawns, and then tumesced sadly at the end of their cycle.
In addition to the main exhibition last time, there was a satellite exhibition at the Jan Marais Nature Reserve in Stellenbosch. Here, artists were invited to produce work in the landscape. This was co-ordinated by Strijdom van der Merwe and resulted in work more in the tradition of art made in the landscape. Many artists worked in material found on site or likely to be slowly reclaimed by the land, and these works have all been left in tact there. It is perhaps more in this spirit that the Biennale will take place this time round.
For the 2004 show, Brand intends to alter the nature of the work produced at the estate. The site for the exhibition has been limited and proposals are being sought for work that responds specifically and sensitively to the topography and conditions of the grounds. There will again be a satellite event, although details are not yet clear. It will probably take place in Cape Town, before the main Biennale, to generate interest and hopefully to cultivate an audience for this sort of public art events. Once again a catalogue will be produced.
Brand is conducting a walkabout of the site at 11am on Saturday May 3. Interested parties are all invited and should meet at farm stall adjacent to the entrance of the estate. Brand will outline criteria and requirements. Proposals will be accepted until Tuesday June 10, and successful applicants will be notified by the first week of July. For more information contact Public For more information contact Public Eye:
Tel: (021) 465-5022
Email: info@public-eye.co.za
