Joburg Art Week 2019 

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The Joburg Art Week was a busy and exciting one this year with many of the local galleries taking advantage of the hype.  The first exhibition I attended was a 21 year 

celebration of the Ampersand Foundation set up by Jack Ginsberg.  Gordon Froud did a great job in making this an exciting show featuring  works by  artists who have benefitted from this residency.  The exhibition gives an insight into the best of South African art over the last 21 years.  It is comprehensive and exciting and a must-see.  Congratulations to Gordon Froud and the artists.

 

Another venue was the Wits Art Museum who are showing 2 temporary curated exhibitions by Joachim Schonfeldt and Robert Hodgins.  Both legends in South African art.  A special surprise was a visit to the "Centre for Book Arts" tucked away upstairs in the Museum.  There are spectacular books by artists which represent a lifetime of collecting.  Ask at the Reception Desk for access.  Its a must-see.

 

The drawcard to Joburg at this time of the year is the Joburg Art Fair recently rebranded as FNB ART JOBURG.  This year's edition was a pared down version of the Art Fairs we are used to.  There were less galleries and more space to show individual artists works in a curated context. Another new venture was Latitudes at Nelson Mandela Square where Durban artist Sthenjwa Luthuli's artwork on an Aston Martin was a great hit.  The KZNSA booth also featured his work as well as the amazing Derrick Nxumalo's spectacular landscape.

 

All in all an exciting week proving that South African art is alive and well.