Recommendations are not really the stuff of editorials, but. Anyone living in the Johannesburg area ought to make a trip to Newtown, to see the works of the eight finalists in the 2003 DaimlerChrysler Art Award. The photographs on show demonstrate an all-round commitment by the participants to a superlative quality ethic. Given too the range of stylistic offerings, the show will doubtlessly provide for some animated discussion should you decide not to go alone. Guy Tillim might have been selected as the overall winner, but this by no means discounts the input of the other seven entrants. From Zwelethu Mthethwa, Jackob Doman and Andrew Tshabangu's studies of the fraught environments in which spirituality is practiced and affirmed, to Angela Buckland and Jo Ractliffe's mesmerising studies of that indeterminate thing commonly described as home, the show, by default rather than design, offers a considered portrait of things, not necessarily only here in South Africa, but certainly of this moment. And there are some genuine surprises, from Stephen Hobbs' engaging installation presentation to the unexpected beauty latent in the cruelty of Brent Meistre's roads. A must see.
Sean O'Toole
Next update: December 1, 2003
CAPE
Alan Alborough's cryptically titled show 'work[ing/ in] pro[cess/ gress] opens at the Sasol Art Museum; 'Picnic' is a group show that will present a diverse array of work by a wide range of artists; Minette Vari returns from New York to show a recent video work; Louis Jansen van Vuuren at the AVA; the annual Michaelis School of Fine Art graduate exhibition showcases selected works by the graduating fourth year and Master's students of 2003; and 'AidsArt/ South Africa' and 'Long Life' are on at the South African National Gallery.
GAUTENG
The 2003 DaimlerChrysler Arts Award exhibition focuses eight photographers at the forefront of their craft; Clementina van der Walt is at Krut Art Projects and Marco Cianfanelli at the Absa Gallery; 'Small Things Bright and Beautiful' is an unashamedly commercial festive season show, at the Goodman Gallery; the secret gallery in Pretoria host's its inaugural show; Andrew Milne is staging a performance at Outlet; and Johannes Phokela will be holding his first comprehensive solo exhibition in South Africa, at Gallery Momo.
KWAZULU-NATAL
Berni Searle's 'Float' moves to the DAG; the Durban Institute of Technology presents student work at its DIT Gallery, on the Steve Biko Campus; Anet Norval and Caryn Tilbury show at artSPACE Durban; the NSA has its annual 'Buzzart' exhibition; and 'Tea with Buddha' is a mini exhibition of sorts, at Re-store in Overport Drive.
INTERNATIONAL
Zwelethu Mthethwa and William Kentridge continue to burn up the international circuit. The two stellar artists are on show together in New York, at David Krut Projects, alongside Colbert Mashile and John Murray, and also in Athens, Greece, on an impressive group show titled 'Outlook'. Kentridge has another show in Athens, at the Kappatos Gallery, alongside fellow Jozi resident, Penny Siopis. Conrad Botes is in New York.
Books: Steven Cohen's new book offers evidence of a serious body of work that is intelligent and deeply compassionate, writes Virginia MacKenny; and art historian Michael Stevenson mentions his disappointment at the lack of serious critical and scholarly consideration of Irma Stern's art in the two new books chronicling her achievements. More book reviews again in December.
Exhibition Reviews: Wim Botha's new show engages in painting, printmaking, sculpture and installation, describing an arc that might attract the label of 'conceptual'. Paul Edmunds is gobsmacked. Lloyd Pollak reviews Francine Scialom Greenblatt's paintings, and Sipho Mdanda reviews Durant Sihlali and Frank Ledimo's joint exhibition, as well as attends a show commemorating printmaker Nhlanhla Xaba.
Guy Tillim has been awarded the DaimlerChrysler Art Award for creative photography; David Goldblatt has been shortlisted as a finalist for the 2004 Citigroup photography prize; the new Dimension Data corporate collection, inaugurated at a private function recently in Johannesburg, is exclusively constituted of abstract South African art works; a gala banquet and art auction takes place in Cape Town next month to raise funds for the upgrade of the Red Cross Children's Hospital Trauma Unit Appeal; The Secret Gallery is a new experimental art space opening in the suburb of Villieria, Pretoria; Kagiso Pat Mautloa is the subject of the ninth publication in the TAXI Art Books series - and more.
What motivates curators and art buyers to purchase artworks? This simple question is the premise for Gallery Choice, a monthly feature that aims to reveal who (public museums/corporate collections) is buying what (artist), and why.
David Krut discusses his collaboration with the artist Wim Botha.
Sue Williamson updates her diary from New York.
Sue Williamson occupies an influential and highly respected position in the South African art world, not only for her formidable artistic talent but also for her long history as a writer and cultural worker. By Kim Gurney.
We recommend a visit to Dave Southwood's website.
We profile the work of Nathaniel Stern, recently selected as an exhibiting finalist in the Brett Kebble Art Awards (BKAA), where his project
stuttering[odys] won a merit award in the New Media category.
Autograph Association of Black Photographers is seeking proposals or expressions of interest from freelance photography curators; ITCH is still looking for contributions, as is Big magazine; there is a call for papers for the first International Visual Studies Conference; and KNOPPI01 is looking for audio-visual submissions.
Murmurs and rumbles from other side the bramble bush.
Send us your commentary on this issue.
We are delighted to announce that Hentie van der Merwe is our featured artist. The artist has presented us with a series of four images, a vibrant set of informal group portraits taken in the ethnically and culturally diverse area of southeast Amsterdam.
Available now: outstanding prints by William Kentridge, Robert Hodgins, Zwelethu Mthethwa, and Tracey Rose.
Browse through past editions of ArtThrob.
Who writes for ArtThrob and other bits of information.
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