As the largest art fair on the continent to date, the 11^th edition of the FNB JoburgArtFair is set to be the best yet.

Stevenson Gallery.

Running from 7 – 9 September 2018, over 60 exhibitors from 14 countries across Africa, Europe and the United States – as well as an exciting addition of 15 new exhibitors – will make it the leading event on the 2018 African art calendar.

Here are seven things to get excited about when planning your visit:

1. Billie Zangewa

Malawian-born artist Billie Zangewa has been chosen as the FNB JoburgArtFair’s Featured Artist for 2018. Using offcuts of raw silk to create intricate hand-stitched collages, Billie produces figurative compositions that challenge the historical injustices experienced by black female bodies. Her work explores her intersectional identity in the contemporary context, as well as depicting both personal and universal experiences that connect us as people.

Stolen Moments (2017)

2. Haroon Gunn-Salie

This year’s winner of the coveted FNB Art Prize is Cape Town-born artist and activist Haroon Gunn-Salie, who is gaining attention with his work’s critical social commentary. Haroon creates artistic interventions and installations through his collaborative art practice’s translation of community oral histories. As the winner of this year’s Art Prize, Haroon has been given the opportunity to create a new project that will be showcased in a dedicated space at the fair this September.

3. South Africa X Brazil

Artlogic recently announced an exciting new partnership between FNB JoburgArtFair and São Paulo’s SP-Arte. The aim is to do a country to country exchange that will introduce new audiences to galleries, as well as artists from both countries. The partnership kicked off by facilitating a blank projects (Cape Town) exhibit in the solo section of SP-Arte. This exchange will be reciprocated at this year’s FNB JoburgArtFair and promises to be both educational and enriching.

4. Large-scale Installation: Sue Williamson

Messages from the Atlantic Passage is a large-scale installation by Sue Williamson, concerned with the movements of slaves across the Atlantic Ocean in the 19^th century. This powerful work is highly relevant within the African context and as such will be exhibited at this year’s FNB JoburgArtFair.

5. Curator’s Feature: Takunda Regis Billiat

This year’s Curator’s Feature is a large-scale work by Zimbabwean artist Takunda Regis Billiat. This installation is concerned with the realities of life that Zimbabweans face at present, in the political, economic and social spheres. Takunda’s work further investigates the channels through which knowledge is passed down and the dissonance that is occurring as the country navigates the historically complex problems at hand.

6. Art Platform: NJE Collective (Windhoek)

The NJE Collective is a Namibia-based initiative that was founded in 2016. The collective is artist-run and aims to mentor, support and share resources among Southern African artists. Members work both individually and as a group, and all participating members produce discursive work, challenging contentious contemporary issues based on personal and political experiences. The diverse collective embraces multilocality as a means to avoid the issue of nationality, which they deem to be exclusive and patriarchal.

7. Art Platform: Another Antipodes (Perth)

This Australia-based visual arts platform aims to strengthen cross-cultural communication and understanding between Australian and African artists. The platform, founded in 2016, strives to extend knowledge in contemporary art practice, as well as interrogate its positioning in political, social and historical narratives. For this year’s JoburgArtFair, they will present several established West Australian artists work.

There is also a free Talks Programme curated by Kabelo Malatsi on Saturday 8 September, between 11am and 6pm at Auto & General Theatre on Nelson Mandela Square. The FNB JoburgArtFair will run from 7 – 9 September 2018 at the Sandton Convention Centre, Joburg. The fair is open on Friday from 11am – 8pm, on Saturday from 11am – 7pm and on Sunday from 11am – 5pm. Tickets cost R150 per day or R250 for a weekend pass. For more information, visit fnbjoburgartfair.co.za.

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This tastefully appointed office tower in central Cape Town deserves its green credentials.

On a clear day you can see forever. Or so it seems when you’re standing on the top floor of the new Portside building in the north-western block of Cape Town’s CBD. The distinctive mesa-topped mass of Table Mountain looms in the sky in one direction and then, if you turn your head, you find yourself looking at the curved blue swathe of the Atlantic stretching into the distance.

At close to 140 m high, Portside is the tallest tower in Cape Town’s CBD and the seventh-tallest in the country.

A joint venture between FirstRand Bank and Old Mutual, the R1,6 billion project ticks a number of green boxes. It was built with sustainability and responsible development in mind, and even existing trees on the land were retained. An efficient air conditioning system reduces energy costs, rainwater and grey water are collected for use in toilets, and recycled reinforcing steel was used in the construction.

Even the azure double-glazed facade is there for a reason beyond the aesthetic: to maximise available natural light and reduce the need for artificial light sources. LED lighting is used throughout and motion sensors switch lights on and off as needed, further reducing energy consumption.

In the parking basement there are 1 440 bays, including 70 spaces dedicated solely for hybrid or alternative fuel vehicles, charging stations for electric vehicles, 70 motorcycle bays and ample safe bicycle storage, alongside changing rooms and shower facilities.

Mixed use in the greatest sense of the word, the building has two separate entrance plazas, one for FirstRand Bank on one side of the building and the other for Old Mutual on the opposite side, and the ground floor comprises a vibrant mix of cafés, coffee bars and restaurants, all open to the public.

The internal aesthetics on the FirstRand side are a study in harmony. Clean lines, natural textures and wood tones contrast with the steel and glass of the structure.

Workstations are compact and business-as-usual, but the changes are rung in the chill-out spaces on every floor. Coffee machines, armchairs, board games, soundproof booths, balloon-inspired beanbags and even a pool table add an unexpected air of fun. Bold colours and patterns add a vibrant look and feel while harmonising with the clean lines and natural textures that are at the heart of the building’s interior design philosophy.

But that’s not all. There are “scrum” areas, a professionally equipped staff restaurant – it would be criminal to call it a canteen – complete with a vast open-air patio, and even a wellness centre offering some of the best views to work out to in the Mother City.

All things considered, it’s little wonder Derick Henstra from dhk Architects calls this structure “a timeless 21st century building – a modern classic”. And it’s no surprise the Portside has been awarded a 5 Star Green Star SA certified rating by the Green Building Council SA, making it the greenest tall building in South Africa.

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