It happened! The opening of 'Cape '07'
by Tavish McIntosh
Throughout the opening event, the festivities were tempered with a palpable sense of relief. 'Cape '07' had arrived despite the countless setbacks! 45 of the 'lions of contemporary African art' are on display across the peninsula and Cape Town is officially on the global biennale map, recentring the art world around an emphatically African vision. And this in the face of desperate finances (some biting comments about the National Lottery occasionally slipped out) and the resignation of both CEO Susan Glanville-Zini and Artistic Director Gavin Jantjes in the weeks leading up the event.
On the opening day, everything went according to plan with viewers being ferried by the CAPE bus across the peninsula to take it all in. I take my hat off to the organisers - to successfully install the works and organise the event after the finances fell through was no mean feat. It is just unfortunate that the uncertain status of the event (after the postponement last year and major reconceptualisation just weeks before the opening) was responsible for only a moderate turnout at the event and the afterparty.
As the art intelligentsia gathered under the watchful eyes of a reincarnated Butcher Boys trio (Brett Bailey's contribution) who lounged upon the roof of Lookout Hill, the Minister of Arts and Culture, Pallo Jordan, waxed lyrical about the importance of relevant art and art events. Although he looked great - distinguished and sincere - most of the speech was shouted to the winds due to rather poor audio. Indeed, bad acoustics troubled all the events that I attended that day, with the amps blowing at Iziko SANG in the morning whilst at the afterparty, the DJ did a sophisticated disappearing act for a large section of the evening.
Not withstanding these teething problems, there is some work of the highest quality adorning the various venues' walls and I can only recommend taking out a morning to do the circuit. Curator Gabi Ngcobo and Project Manager Jonathan Garnham have ensured that Lookout Hill in Khayelitsha has become the hub of the biennale by installing the gems of the exhibition there. Godfried Donkor's sublime video projection and Dineo Seshee Bopape's mischievous installation are two of my personal highlights.
Indignant rumors that Gavin Jantjes had fled back to Europe were dispelled by his presence at the press day and at the opening - although he seemed to be there in an advisory capacity only. Former curator Khwezi Gule and former CEO Susan Glanville-Zini also put in an appearance. But it was the presence of the artists themselves that was the most thrilling - mingling with many of the finest artists the world has to offer in one's own backyard is something I hope Capetonians are privileged by again. In bringing all these artists together, the organisers have really pulled one out of the bag on this occasion.
With the spread-out locations meaning that the local environment becomes as much part of the experience as anything else, 'Cape '07' has realised its goal - to open an unconventional cyclical art event that embraces the greater community of the Cape. In the words of the new Managing Director, Mirjam Asmal-Dik, CAPE 'had shown its vulnerability' and the artists and gallerists had responded with courage and generosity. Hopefully Capetonians are able to do the same and support this event.
'Cape '07' is on display until May 2 in venues across the peninsula.
