This Spring, Aspire returns to Cape Town with a much-anticipated auction of Modern and Contemporary art taking place over two days on 29 and 30 September. Presenting an outstanding collection of 132 works by 80 renowned artists, the auction will impress collectors with an exciting and considered selection of artworks.

With a strong focus on South African art, the sale also proudly represents artists from 8 African countries (Benin, Cameroon, DRC, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda and Zimbabwe) and international artists from Europe the UK and USA.  Reflecting the spirit of our time, more than half of the artworks on offer are by artists of colour and women artists feature prominently. Important and significant historical works are presented alongside a diverse collection of contemporary art which includes photography and new media work.

Headlining the contemporary section is a special collection of ten lots of remarkable prints by William Kentridge, spanning nearly three decades. The leading lot is a monumental depiction of Giuseppe Garibaldi. Portrayed on a wooden horse, the image of the great general is comprised of twenty etchings mounted on raw cotton cloth folded and housed in a handmade box. Other prints like West Coast Landscapes, the Universal Archive series and The Battle Between Yes and No, showcase well-known themes, a wonderful range of printmaking techniques and the unsurpassed technical accomplishment for which the artist has gained world-wide recognition.

Works by eminent contemporary artists include paintings by Sam Nhlengethwa of Jazz icons, Richard Mudariki, Nelson Makamo, Bambo Sibiya and Zemba Luzamba’s depictions of African pop-culture. Dan Halter’s monumental work titled Rifugiato Mappa del Mondo made from plastic-mesh bags addresses the themes of migration and displacement in his work. Large scale images by Mohau Modisakeng and Cyrus Kabiru alongside documentary works by Mickael Subotzky complete the photography collection.

A highlight is a group of paintings by Robert Hodgins featuring the deliciously comic and poignant work Left out of Making Love in the Shadows in which he hints at the delights and dramas to be discovered in the shadows. Two early paintings from the Pink Suite: Trojan War titled Menelaus and Paris and Helen show off his signature style of expressive draughtsmanship and glorious colour and in Men with Structures I, Hodgins makes his acute sense of humour evident.

Of the formidable women’s voices featured in the sale is Penny Siopis with early works from her Shame series, Georgina Gratrix’s visually captivating Most Beautiful Woman in thick oil paint, Diane Victor’s monumental drawing Pasiphae and Turiya Magadlela’s large textile works. Also included is a beautiful early landscape scene painted by Gladys Mgudlandlu.

Sculpture is a prominent and powerful medium in local art and the auction focuses on a unique and impressive body of sculptural works led by Edoardo Villa and Sydney Kumalo, arguably Africa’s greatest modernist sculptors. 

Villa’s powerful early work Sculpture III from 1969/1970 is notable for its balance of rest and momentum, achieved through the sculptor’s mastery of generous proportions, spatial dynamics and highly finished surfaces. While his forms are abstract, they retain a sensuous organic quality that references the human body and social interaction.

Study for Mythical Rider II, produced in 1970, is typically a major motif in Sydney Kumalo’s oeuvre, famous for his powerful figurative bronzes. Drawing on his deep pride in Zulu traditions and the rich cultural influences of growing up in Sophiatown, Kumalo has created a poignant figure, with hands extended in supplication to the universe ­­– an impressive symbol of humanity in harmony with nature.  Another sculpture by  this artistic master title Large Seated Woman  is also featured.

Key sculptural works are Lucas Sithole’s moving Don’t worry your father will come, Brett Murray’s Donkey first exhibited on Sleep Sleep in 2005 and Willie Bester’s sculptural tableau, Transition, which captures his unique approach in using found objects to evoke the gritty realities of life experienced first-hand on the streets of South African cities. Other contemporary sculptors represented are Norman Catherine, Dylan Lewis, Gerald Machona, Stefanus Rademeyer and ceramist Nico Masemola. Look out for Miniature Figure III by British Modernist, Lynn Chadwick RA, who in 1956 was awarded the coveted prize for sculpture at the 28^th Venice Biennale.

Art historical treasures for seasoned collectors include two exquisite still life paintings painted in 1948 by Erik Laubscher during his time at the Anglo-French Art Centre. Paintings from the artist’s ‘London Period’ are extremely rare and remain highly sought after, as well as a collection of early, small-scale Alexis Preller works showing the artist’s experiments in subject, style and medium.

Landscapes have always been an integral part of South African painting and remain an important collecting category. A selection of important and valuable paintings by master landscapist J.H. Pierneef alongside Ruth Everard Haden, Maud Sumner and the much loved Cape painter Hugo Naudé magnificently capture the beauty, light and uniqueness of the local landscape.

Available on auction for the first time locally is a striking, large-scale still-life painting by leading contemporary Swiss artist Uwe Wittwer. The artist’s work rarely comes to auction and Aspire is proud to debut Wittwer with this exceptional work.

Other newcomers to auction in South Africa are Kenyan artist Richard Kimathi and  Cameroonian Moustapha Baïdi Oumarou. Already established at auction in Nigeria and having featured in London and Paris, Nigerian artist Gerald Chukwuma debuts locally with Adam and Eve – a monumental work painstakingly created from wood and recycled objects.

The live auction will take place from Aspire’s exquisite new gallery space at 37A Somerset Road in De Waterkant. Buyers are invited to join for in-room bidding or make use of telephone or Aspire’s real-time online bidding platforms.  

The preview exhibition is currently on display in the gallery and can be viewed from Monday to Friday between 10am and 4pm.

A fully illustrated auction catalogue is available and can be downloaded at www.aspireart.net.

For Aspire Art Auctions – Cape Town enquiries, phone +27 21 418 0765 or email ct@aspireart.net.

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Aspire Art Auctions has teamed up with Greg Gamble and Philippe van der Merwe of interior architecture studio Tonic Design to host a fine design auction.

“As contemporary fine art from Africa is increasingly coveted by a growing local and international community, our intention is also to promote the finest contemporary design produced on this continent alongside signature pieces from international designers,” says Ruarc Peffers, Senior Art Specialist at Aspire Art Auctions.

“Putting good local design on a par with its international equivalents elevates South African products and reminds us that if we buy good, well-designed furniture, wherever it comes from, it can have and retain resale value,” adds Greg.

Cassina, Eero Aarnio, Kartell, Ib Kofod-Larsen, Christensen & Larsen and Børge Mogensen are some of the renowned international design studios that will feature as part of this collaborative auction.

Christensen & Larsen

Locally designed pieces include the Hlabisa Bench by Thabisa Mjo of Mash.T, in collaboration with Houtlander and Beauty Ngxongo, and the House Union Block ceramic and cork trays, created by Laurie Wiid of Wiid Design, together with Glorinah Khutso Mabaso of Renaissance Design, facilitated by Clout. There are also pieces by Joe Paine, Yaniv Chen of Master Studio, Tonic Design, Dokter and Misses, Gregor Jenkin Studio and Anatomy Design.

Thabisa Mjo (Mash.T Design Studio), Philip Houtlander and Stephen Wilson, and Beauty Ngxongo.

The lots are on view at Aspire Art Auctions’ Johannesburg gallery until 26 November 2020, by appointment. You can browse the digital catalogue here. Online bidding is open and the auction will close on 26 November at 7pm. For more information, visit aspireart.net.

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From a downloadable colouring-in page by local illustrator Russell Abrahams (aka Yay Abe) to do-it-at-home art tutorials with Joburg-based art institution David Krut Projects, these are the top VISI picks of the week series – week 329.

1. Yay Abe X BOS Downloadable Colouring-in Page

BOS Ice Tea has commissioned Russell Abrahams of Cape Town-based illustration studio Yay Abe to create an illustration for anyone to download and colour in at home. The theme, “Moments of Joy”, illustrates the connection created through technology between family and friends during lockdown. Download the page to get creative, here.

Russell Abrahams working on his largest mural to date in Maboneng.

Images courtesy of Yay Abe

2. David Krut Project’s Online Activities

Joburg-based art institution David Krut Projects has hosted a range of free online activities for both adults and children, run by local artists and printmakers who form part of its workshop. From a children’s printmaking activity by Zhi Zulu and Pebofatso Mokoena and a printmaking demo by Chad Cordeiro, there’s something for everyone to get involved in. Visit davidkrutprojects.com to get involved.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B-1qSh0J5PB/

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Images courtesy of @davidkrutprojects on Instagram

3. Pierre Coetzee’s 21 Days of Art

Local artist Pierre Coetzee created a series of artworks for each day of the initial 21-day lockdown. Made using Copic Alcohol Ink from Japan on Yupo Paper, the artworks are then scanned in for printing. Pierre is offering a free download to brighten up your home, with each downloadable artwork costing R100 thereafter. 

Images courtesy of Pierre Coetzee Art on Facebook

4. FOOD XX Finalists Announced

FOOD XX has announced 73 womxn finalists for the annual FOOD XX Awards, in partnership with Woolworths. The awards include 16 categories such as farming, food security, education, activism, as well as content creation, products and beverages. The awards aim to put womxn in the industry at the forefront. The FOOD XX Womxn in Food Awards 2020 will be accompanied by a gala dinner cooked by the womxn of the Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel. “This event is the culmination of our ethos at FOOD XX, which is to create a collaborative space where womxn can support and celebrate each other,” says FOOD XX director and founder of Studio H, Hannerie Visser. Find out more, here.

Image courtesy of studio-h.co.za

5. Aspire Art Auctions for DARG

Aspire Art Auctions will be holding an online auction for DARG to raise funds for the animals in the shelter. Some of the works on auction include pieces by Jody Paulsen, Jenny Nijenhuis, Dale Lawrence, Jeanne Hoffman and Sarah Pratt. The auction will open on Tuesday 28 April and will run until 5 May 2020. For more info on the event, click here.

Image courtesy of darg.org.za

Browse more like VISI picks of the week series – week 329 on picks of the week 344.

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