This summer visitors to the various Iziko museums will be treated to a
host of exhibitions, from Rock Art of the San to works by the acclaimed
William Kentridge, and from the Old Dutch Masters to the world’s latest
and most spectacular award-winning wildlife photographs.
Iziko South African National Gallery
On view at Iziko South African National Gallery is Voices of the
Ancestors, a superb collection of musical instruments from different
parts of Africa. In addition, visitors can ‘chill out’ in the Chill Room
and experience the audible, not to mention the spiritual, dimension of
African sounds.
Scratches on the Face ‘speaks of the multiple histories that
have contributed to the fabric of the South African nation, while artist
Andrew Verster’s Past/Present, is a multi-media exhibition of
paintings, drawings, stage sets, costume designs and wax panels. Verster
is possibly one of the country’s most prolific and respected artists.
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Described as a juxtaposition ‘of the well-loved paintings and
sculptures of modern South African masters with more recent artworks,
videos and photographs’, Intimate Distance has as its theme the
conflicting emotions of intimacy and distance, independence and belonging.
From a different era, comes The Sir Abe Bailey Bequest, the
greatest gift of artworks ever presented to South Africa and featuring
paintings by George Stubbs, Sir Joshua Reynolds, Sir Thomas Lawrence, J W
M Turner and others. The Sir Abe Bailey Trust is also actively involved
in the conservation of Iziko’s artworks.
And importantly, there is the new William Kentridge exhibition
which runs until 8 March 2009. A multi-channel projected work that
provides a satirical commentary on contemporary society, this
thought-provoking offering is entitled I am not me, the horse is not mine.
Iziko Michaelis Collection at the Old Town House
Lovers of classical art with a modern twist, can visit the elegant Old
Town House in historical Greenmarket Square to view Dutch Treat. Artist
Andrew Putter uses the Iziko Michaelis Collection as a base for his work
Secretly I will love you more. Inspired by the classical masters,
the artwork is nevertheless a commentary on matters today.
Iziko South African Museum
Meanwhile at the Iziko South African Museum is the Wildlife
Photographer of the Year 2008 exhibition which runs till 15 March
2009. Given the record numbers which the exhibition regularly draws, it
needs little introduction except to mention that this is the world’s most
prestigious exhibition of its kind.
Unconquerable Spirit: George Stow and the Rock art of the San
also deals with nature, but from the perspective of the lost world of the
San whose wealth of rock paintings, discovered by Stow, records the South
African landscape of centuries ago.
Iziko Slave Lodge
Exhibitions at the Iziko Slave Lodge which deal with oppression of the
past include 1808 Slave Rebellion and Biko: The Quest for a true
humanity, a travelling exhibition developed and presented by the
Apartheid Museum to commemorate the 30th anniversary of this iconic
struggle hero.
Good Hope Gallery at the Castle
At the Castle of Good Hope, the Cape’s oldest building, Breathing
Spaces is an exhibition of photographs by Jenny Gordon and various
photographers from community workshops in Durban. It deals with
environmental issues and opens at the Castle’s Good Hope Gallery on 11
January 2009.
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