A Life's Work: James O. Hall at Durban Art Gallery
by Andrew Verster
James Hall was busy working right to the end of his 90 years, as vigorously as in his youth. His many public works in Durban on buildings and in them, tell a story of a man who saw no dividing line between art and craft. An elegant bas-relief gilded and coloured crest for a school was made with the same dedication as a portrait bust of Nelson Mandela or decorative embellishments for the Blue Waters Hotel.
Although in touch with the new aesthetics of the post-war period, his vision formed in the 30s hardly changed and his stylised forms and a repertoire of images - geometric motifs, fish, birds, the human form - became his distinctive signature. Curiously, though the face of his adopted city is much richer for what he did, few would be aware that this frieze of ceramic tiles, or that sculpture were done by him. This is a testament as much to his modesty as to the indifference of the city elders to his enormous creative contribution. Indeed, recently, we witnessed an act of sanctioned vandalism when the Durban University of Technology pulverised his magnificent coat of arms on a busy main-road corner in order to replace it with their new plastic sign. Perhaps this retrospective at the Durban Art Gallery will prevent another such casual destruction of a piece of Durban's heritage in the future.
Born in New Zealand, he studied in London at the Slade and the Camberwell School of Art, where he later taught. As a War Artist he captured many of the personalities in the forces in a caricature style. The small clay models of tanks which were used to plan manoeuvres are part of this exhibition. Whilst on active service in the New Zealand army he was selected to play rugby and became an All Black.
James Hall was influential as a teacher where his technical expertise, his unsurpassed knowledge of glazes, and his disciplined approach to work, raised the status of ceramics from a pastime to a worthwhile profession. He laid the groundwork which would later make it possible for someone like Hennie Stroebel to forsake painting for ceramics as the most suitable vehicle for expression.
In 1967 he was appointed design consultant to the glazing division at Corobrik, Natal, a position he held until the late 1990s. It is not a good idea for artists to die young. Indeed history tells of many who produced some of their finest work in their latter years. James Hall's creativity never diminished.
This retrospective exhibition gives a valuable insight into his thinking and his work process - here are early energetic portrait busts reminiscent of Epstein, maquettes for statues, photographs of work in progress, as well as the tools of his profession such as glazes, and many sketches and preparatory drawings, making it an educational and visual delight.
Andrew Verster is an artist, writer, critic and friend of late James O.Hall
Opened: March 21
Closes: May 15
Durban Art Gallery
2nd Floor City Hall, Smith Street, Durban
Tel: (031) 311 2264
Fax: (031) 311 2273
Email: strettonj@durban.gov.za
Hours: Mon - Sat 8:30am - 4pm, Sun 11am - 4pm
