After a closure of six weeks, the Iziko South African National Gallery will reopen to the public on April 15, 2010. The closure was necessary for infrastructural and maintenance repairs. This was  to ensure stable conditions for the gallery’s collections, and also to facilitate the continuation of loans and the display of artworks from other collections under international museum standards.   

To launch the reopening, and in preparation for the FIFA 2010 World Cup, the gallery presents ‘1910-2010 From Pierneef...

After a closure of six weeks, the Iziko South African National Gallery will reopen to the public on April 15, 2010. The closure was necessary for infrastructural and maintenance repairs. This was  to ensure stable conditions for the gallery’s collections, and also to facilitate the continuation of loans and the display of artworks from other collections under international museum standards.   

To launch the reopening, and in preparation for the FIFA 2010 World Cup, the gallery presents ‘1910-2010 From Pierneef to Gugulective’ an exhibition of South African art curated by Iziko’s director of arts collections, Riason Naidoo. The exhibition aims to reflect on the country’s contribution to modern and contemporary art. It also offers a glimpse of future artistic talent.

'The context of the World Cup also allows for a reflection on the diversity, strength and uniqueness of our own art history', says Naidoo.

The re-hang of the entire gallery has been curated to showcase the very best of South African art. Visitors to the gallery can look forward to an exhibition based on the ISANG’s permanent collection and supplemented by works on loan from other public and corporate collections around the country. A wide scope of work will be on view ranging from the early 20th century to artists such as Gerard Sekoto, Irma Stern, George Pemba, Maggie Laubser, Gerard Bhengu, JH Pierneef, moving through to Durant Sihlali and Dumile Feni, and concluding with contemporary artists such as Andrew Putter, Robin Rhode, Nicholas Hlobo and performance art group Gugulective.

The exhibition also acknowledges important developments in local art history such as Polly Street, Rorke’s Drift, DRUM magazine, Resistance Art, and the rise of South Africa’s contemporary art scene.

Also on show as part of the reopening of the gallery is ‘US’, an exhibition which takes as its genesis the devastating xenophobic attacks that occurred in South Africa in 2008. Curated by Bettina Malcomess and Simon Njami, ‘US’ (as the title suggests) focuses on the ‘us’, rather than the ‘them’, which typically refers to the marginalised and unwanted ‘other’. Included works contemplate the shifting constellation of self, nation, place and culture.
Bili Bidjocka, Donna Kukama, Kemang Wa Lehulere, Mikhael Subotzky, Justin Brett and Frances Goodman are some of this show’s line up.

‘1910-2010 From Pierneef to Gugulective’ will run until mid September and ‘US’ until October.