Artthrob

NEXT MONTH:

Focus on books on contemporary art
in South Africa

Fellow artists:
How do you feel about the fact that due to an apparent stuff up at the Department of Arts and Culture, there was no South African representation at the Venice Biennale this year? On whose desk did the invitation lie unattended? And is it not the job of AICA, the African Institute of Contemporary Art to act as watchdog on such matters?
Explanations would be welcomed.

B A S A

'Cultural tourism' is one of those new-South-Africa-speak phrases which conjures up the picture of hundreds of visitors rushing to the country to take in the richness of our art scene. In fact, culture is high on many visitors' agendas, and shock is often expressed at the meagreness of art facilities

To help remedy the situation, Business and Arts South Africa (BASA) was launched in February this year, 'determined to bring the business of arts and the art of business together'. Their mission statement is: 'To promote and encourage sustainable partnerships between the private sector and the arts to their mutual benefit and to that of the community at large.'

More than 50 companies have signed as founder members, including such heavyweights as Anglo American, the Standard Bank and BMW.

Under the matching grant scheme, Basa will help find a suitable sponsor amongst its members for an arts project, and then match the funding from that company.

It all seems such a good idea, that it was disappointing to learn that most founder members have already stated that they do not wish to fund 'anything political'. As if one can divorce the political from daily life in South Africa! It's an attitude that sounds very old South African and let's-not-get-involved to us, and we hope there'll be a change of mind. But what do you think? E-mail on the issue would be welcomed.

Direct your inquiries about Basa and the possibilties of funding to CEO Nicola Danby, BASA, P.O. Box 784481, Sandton City, Sandton 2146. Phone: (011) 784-9994/5 Fax:(011) 784-9996.

Details from
Willem Boshoff's
"Blind Alphabet":

The Vita Awards

Until this year, the annual Vita Art Now award was given to the artist that a selection panel decided had shown the best exhibition in Johannesburg the previous year, a flawed procedure which has now been updated. The 1997 process is this: Seven nominees from around the country have each received R4 000 to make a piece of work which will be exhibited at the Sandton Museum in October, to tie in with the 2nd Johannesburg Biennale. The overall Vita Now Award winner will then be chosen. And the finalists are:

Santu Mofokeng, a photographer who works at the Institute for Advanced Social Research at Wits University, and winner of the 1992 Mother Jones award for Africa. Nominated for The Black Photo Album, a chronicle of family life built from found photographs.
Robyn Orlin, multi-talented dancer, choreographer, performance artist and installation artist. Nominated for her overall contribution to contemporary art.
Kaye Hassan and Patrick Kagiso Mautloa, both full time artists working out of the Bag Factory studio in Johannesburg and exhibiting internationally, nominated jointly for their installation at the Kunst Aus Sudafrika show in Berlin last year.
Willem Boshoff, an artist whose love affair with almost forgotten words leads him to some astonishing artistic conclusions, nominated on the strength of a string of international showings last year in Lisbon, Atlanta, Sao Paolo, and London.
Tracey Rose, a young artist who trained at Wits, and is rapidly achieving 'rising star' status. Nominated for her work in four Johannesburg exhibitions last year.
Peet Pienaar, the only artist selected from outside Gauteng, whose amazing ability to stand absolutely motionless on a pedestal while dressed in outfits designed to undermine the whole ethos around rugby worship in South Africa have led to some memorable performances. His nomination is for one of these, at the Johannesburg Art Gallery, in which, holding a rugby ball, he wore an 'evening ensemble' - a suit of green sequins with a Springbok on the breast pocket. This art piece was called Peet Pienaar, Sculpture on Loan from the Hanel Gallery.

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