Ten things about 2004
Compiled by Sean O'Toole
Here we are, year ten. Instead of looking back on our achievements, there'll be enough of that going on, here is a suggested list of things worth watching out for in the coming year:
Opening of the premises gallery
'A Decade of Democracy: Witnessing South Africa', in Boston
A revamped Artist Proof Studio
A new book on SA art profiling 100 artists
Two benchmark shows at the SANG
Announcement of the 2004 Citigroup Photography Prize
Kathryn Smith's Standard Bank Young Artist show
Opening of the Constitutional Court
Freedom Park versus Kliptown
Art and artmaking
Opening of the premises gallery
Johannesburg's Civic Centre will once again become a premier art destination with the re-opening of the premises gallery. Still under the administration of the trinity session, the gallery will be christened at a private function on January 26, and officially open to the public on February 29, that uncommon leap year day. Billed as a small piece of art world history, it will be interesting to see how the gallery positions itself in the increasingly competitive Jo'burg art scene.
Website: http://onair.co.za/thepremises
'A Decade of Democracy: Witnessing South Africa', in Boston
This group show, curated by Sophia Ainslie, Thembinkosi Goniwe and Tumelo Mosaka, takes its cue from the tenth year of our fledgling democracy and looks set to potentially launch the careers of a young batch of local artists. The list of artists invited to show at Boston's National Center of Afro-American Artists is not without its surprises. Whatever ones personal reservations, though, the show will certainly offer US viewers something other than the usual suspects. Thus, no Candice Breitz, Kendell Geers, Moshekwa Langa and Zwelethu Mthethwa, but instead a list of 20 young artists whose output critically examines the limits and contradictions of multidimensional identities in post-apartheid South Africa.
Website: www.sondela.net
A revamped Artist Proof Studio
On the night of March 9, 2003, the Artist Proof Studio burnt to the ground taking with it Nhlanhla Xaba, co-founder, teacher and mentor. The loss was enormous, its impact felt by many. Donors attempted to assuage the grief with a number of generous donations. The studio has received funding from the Arts and Culture Trust, The Ford Foundation, J&J International, MTN Art Foundation, Goodman Gallery and the South African Development Fund in Boston, amongst others. On February 2, the Artists Proof Studio will once again be, and operate from its new home in the Bus Factory, situated in Johannesburg's Newtown cultural precinct. The studio has installed a brand new Takach Etching press, with a press bed size of 1.2m x 2,4 m, which may just qualify it as one of the largest etching presses in SA. Pontsho Sikhosana is set to be the resident printer, with Mandy Conidaris and Tim Foulds providing assistance.
Contact: Cara Walters, Studio Manager - artistp@mweb.co.za
A new book on SA art profiling 100 artists
It is now eight years since the publication of Sue Williamson and Ashraf Jamal's Art in South Africa: the Future Present (David Philip, 1996). Praised as an "exuberant celebration of the country's emergence from isolation", the book was nonetheless criticised for the predominance it gave to white male artists. "There are no women of colour or Asians, male or female," remarked Janet Goldner in her African Arts review of the book. Eight years isn't a long way to have travelled since then and yet Berni Searle and Usha Seejarim's names effortlessly glide off the top of my head. Which proves how vital Bell-Roberts and Struik's new joint venture book will be. Provisionally named '10 YEARS 100 ARTISTS', the publication sets out to list South Africa's 100 artists of the moment. 15 critics/curators (including Emma Bedford, Thembinkosi Goniwe, Tumelo Mosaka and Colin Richards) participated in each selecting 6 or 7 artists they thought represented the cream of current production. Sophie Perryer, former ArtThrob editor and currently at the helm of Art South Africa, is editing the book. "The aim is to produce a gorgeous and substantial coffee-table book, which includes serious discussion about the 'state of the art' in a democratic South Africa" is all she will reveal. Expect to see the book around September/October this year.
Two benchmark shows at the SANG
2004 is doubtlessly going to occasion its fare share of navel gazing, and then some. Beyond the tedium of flimsy shows referencing ten years of democracy are two key retrospective shows, both at the South African national gallery. 'Beyond the Material' will present works from the SANG's Permanent Collection, including Malcolm Payne's Rorschach Test, a seminal work first created in 1973-74 and exhibited at Queens Museum of Art, New York, on the exhibition 'Global Conceptualism: Points of Origin 1950s-1980s'. Expect to also see works by Willem Boshoff, Alan Alborough, Neil Goedhals, Kendell Geers and Sue Williamson. The other exhibition is 'ReCollection', which totally re-conceives the entrance room of the SANG, offering visitors a survey of the history of its Permanent Collections over the past 130 years. Some key acquisitions, which have been sleeping in the stores, have been unearthed for this show. Both shows are scheduled for April.
Announcement of the 2004 Citigroup Photography Prize
South Africa has a vested interest in the outcome of this one, David Goldblatt on the final shortlist of four photographers up for this prestigious �20,000 prize. It will be up to Dr Susanne Lange (Director, SK Stiftung Kultur/ Die Photographische Sammlung, Germany), Jeremy Millar (Director, Brighton Photo Biennial 2003, UK) and Russell Roberts (Senior Curator of Photographs & Head of Photography, National Museum of Photography, Film and Television, Bradford, UK) to decide whether Goldblatt's images are any 'better' than fellow nominees Robert Adams, Peter Fraser and Joel Sternfeld. The winner will be announced on March 4.
Website: www.photonet.org.uk/sections.pl5?section=programme:current
Kathryn Smith's Standard Bank Young Artist show
Tongues are wagging in art circles following the announcement that Kathryn Smith is the Standard Bank Young Artist for 2004. Somewhat predictably, nobody (aside from Sipho Mdanda) has had the gumption to air their views publicly. Which might be a good thing. Since the proof is in the pudding, it is probably best that we reserve judgement until July, when Smith opens her solo show in Grahamstown. Doubtlessly there will be a few people eating humble pie after the show, although no bets yet on who.
Opening of the Constitutional Court
A whole host of art world luminaries have been involved in shaping and producing the cultural trim that will envelope the new Constitution Court, on Johannesburg's renamed Constitution Hill. Not the least of these is chief justice Albie Sachs, a vociferous commentator on the role of the arts in society. Other notables include Clive van den Berg, who has stepped in where Terry Kurgan left off. While numerous artists are still assessing whether or not they will be able to get involved, the photographic team of Adam Broomberg and Oliver Chanarin have already completed an arduous journey around the country. They have worked on a visual essay showcasing everyday scenarios that give expression to our very progressive liberal constitution. It is due to be exhibited in the Old Fort during the opening of the new court. The court, designed by the architectural practice Design Solutions, stands on the northern apex of the Braamfontein Cultural Arc and is likely to herald an upswing in the fortunes of this beleaguered urban zone.
Freedom Park versus Kliptown
Two models of remembering will vie for attention this year, although neither of them will quite achieve this as finished products. Billed as "a one-stop heritage precinct", Pretoria's Freedom Park has been conceived as a place of remembrance and inspiration. Announced with much fanfare, an international architectural competition was launched to decide the fate of the 52-hectare site on the outskirts of Pretoria (not that far from the Voortrekker Monument). Three joint winners (as opposed to one outright winner) were chosen to reinvent Salvokop. Construction has already begun on the project, and when completed the site could potentially herald a renaissance in public architecture in a city once known as the epicenter of radical design architecture.
Some 60-km from Pretoria, in one of the oldest multiracial settlements in the Johannesburg area, Kliptown is being developed into a major heritage site. According to Business Day Blue IQ has invested more than R299 million to turn Kliptown, established in 1912, into a heritage and tourist destination. Pierre Swanepoel, of MAS Architects and Urban Designers, submitted the winning design for a monument, museum, informal and formal retail activities as well as open area for community gatherings. Construction work is expected to be complete by June 26, 2005 coinciding with the countrywide 50th anniversary celebrations of the adoption of the Freedom Charter.
Website: www.freedompark.co.za
Art and artmaking
Among the numerous exhibitions and shows planned for 2004, Tracy Rose's new show at the Goodman Gallery looks set to intrigue, as too does Berni Searle's new performance video, due to be exhibited at the Michael Stevenson Contemporary in February. Also, Karin Frei's curatorial initiative 'Children of Paradise', at João Ferreira, could prove interesting. The show features both local and Swiss artists, including: Candice Breitz, c a l c, com & com, Décosterd & Rahm, Kendell Geers, Matthew Hindley, San Keller, Lutz/ Guggisberg, Zwelethu Mthethwa, Robin Rhode, Mario Sala, Doreen Southwood, Steiner/ Lenzlinger, David West, Hannes Wettstein and Sue Williamson. (Note the weird acronyms used by the Swiss!?) Of personal interest, and also at João Ferreira, is the work of photographer Mandy Lee Jandrell.
