Over 41 exhibitors from 14 different countries descend upon the city of gold.
“Are you attending the Joburg art fair this year?” asked globally renowned artist, Zanele Muholi, last week at Mmangaliso Nzuza’s exhibition opening at Southern Guild Cape Town.
“Yes, I will be there like a bear!” I respond.
“Great, I am launching my Somnyama Ngonyama, Hail the Dark Lioness Volume 2 book this Saturday in the Jonathan Ball booth there. 11am sharp.”
Knowing full-well that these artist coffee table books do not come cheap, I ask: “How much?” “Around R2500!” is the response. Startled, I quaffed my wine.
“...You get to have my work at home for a fraction of my art prices.”
I might have to start a crowdfunding site for this book to ensure I do not disappoint Zanele this weekend.
It’s FNB Art Joburg fair time. A time, when over 41 exhibitors from 14 different countries descend upon the city of gold. When over 100 artists showcase their work.
Africa’s longest running art fair opens up the city of Johannesburg with art, music, performances, food and fashion for 16 full days before and after the actual art fair week.
“Parallel to the art fair, which is from 6 to 8 September this year, we also have Open City which I consider to be the fun, soft-landing, entry point to art for all.
“Art can be quite intimidating from the outside hence we also have this 16-days of culture activities via Open City,” says Mandla Sibeko, Managing Director of FNB Art Joburg.
Open City, in partnership with Brand South Africa (BrandSA), kicked off on August 29 and runs until September 13. It features exhibition openings, open studios, art bus tours, educational art talks and performances by the likes of Mzambiya.
It stretches from Newtown to Sandton via Braamfontein, Rosebank, Marshalltown and more.
Back here in Cape Town, we have several art galleries that will be doing the great trek to Johannesburg; these include Zeitz MOCAA, Blank, SMAC, Under the Aegis, Eclectica Contemporary to name a few.
“We are thrilled to be exhibiting at the Joburg art fair, guided by the expert leadership of Mandla Sibeko and the keen precision of Kim Kandan. This event is highly regarded for its unwavering support of the industry and its celebration of African and diasporic art,” said Marli Odendaal, assistant curator at Eclectica Contemporary.
Eclectica is armed heavily with their worldly Johannes Phokela, who has completed a series of seven paintings called The Seven Virtues.
Eclectica is also bringing along two young artists, Thando Phenyane and Desire Marea, who will be making their art fair debut. Aside, may Desire Marea’s The Baddies of Isandlwana photographs never been seen in KwaZulu Natal. For his own good.
Further afield, all the way from Harare, Zimbabwe, , we have First Floor Gallery Harare.
They have been exhibiting at this fair since 2015.
“We are very excited about this year’s fair! Our main presentation will feature the best new works from our leading artists that include the 2024 FNB Art Prize winner, Gresham Tapiwa Nyaude. We are also looking forward to participating in the new GIF section for photography with the works of Calvin Dondo – the father of contemporary photography in Zimbabwe!” said Valerie Kabov, the director of First Floor Gallery, Harare.
As much as Sibeko does not go into the commercial side of the art fair, he does hint at its ever-growing success citing that last year alone exhibitors were able to fetch from R10 000 to as much as R10 million for various works.
My biggest worry right now is the R2500 I need for Zanele’s book. Other than that the R160 entry fee shouldn’t be a problem.
It is a relatively small amount to pay to see and experience some of the greatest African art .
The 17th edition of the FNB Art Joburg art opens on Friday at the Sandton Convention Centre, and closes on Sunday.
Cape Times
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