Take a journey around Africa with Curatorial Voices preview
Strauss & Co, Africa’s leading art auction house, invites collectors to explore SA and beyond through Curatorial Voices: African Landscapes, Past and Present, our landscape-themed auction of collectable art from across the African continent. Collectors can preview works in this ambitious auction from Wednesday February 14 2024 at Strauss & Co’s newly refurbished Cape Town gallery.
The preview exhibition gathers work that spans 175 years of art history by artists from Benin, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ghana, Namibia, Nigeria, SA, Tunisia and Zimbabwe. Artists represented in Curatorial Voices: African Landscapes, Past and Present include the celebrated abstract painter Dr Esther Mahlangu, whose much anticipated retrospective, Then I Knew I was Good at Painting, opens to the public at Iziko South African National Gallery, Cape Town, on February 18 2024.
Organised by Jean le ClusTheron and Leigh Leyde of Strauss & Co, Curatorial Voices: African Landscape, Past and Present includes much that will astonish. Cinga Samson’s 2017 painting Hliso Street V (estimate R2m-R3m/$105,000-$157,000) is a highly important work that introduced his globally acclaimed portrait style. JH Pierneef ’ s 1929 composition
Church Street, Tulbagh (estimate R1.5m-R2.5m/$78,500R131,000) is a culturally important street scene deriving from the artist’s peak period.
There are also important works by Jake Aikman, Zander Blom, Kudzanai Chiurai, Ablade Glover, David Goldblatt, Moshekwa Langa, Bronwyn Katz, William Kentridge, Thameur Mejri, Sam Nhlengethwa, Thania Petersen, Thierry Oussou, Owusu-Ankomah, Usha Seejarim and Gerard Sekoto. Collectors are directed to Claude Bouscharain ’ s stunning painting,
Trapping the Sea (estimate R80,000-R120,000/$4,222R6,334), which records the construction of the Sea Point Pavilion and Pool, a much-loved Cape Town landmark. Durant Sihlali ’ s monotype depicting the Kruger National Park bushveld circa the 1980s (estimate R5,000-R7,000/$265-$370) is another work embodying collectability and value.
“I’mreally looking forward to presenting Curatorial Voices: African Landscape, Past and Present to collectors and international visitors to Cape Town,” says Le Clus-Theron, senior art specialist, Strauss & Co.
“This auction is a wonderful opportunity to view art from across the African continent. We have collaborated with five African art experts – Ugoma Ebilah, Nkgopoleng Moloi, Azu Nwagbogu, Azza Satti and Camilla van Hoogstraten – who share in the company’s vision of a robust and interconnected secondary market on the African continent.
“They provided invaluable input to our showcase of important artists, past and present, working with the landscape as subject,” Le Clus-Theron said.
Ugoma Ebilah is an independent curator based in Nigeria. Nkgopoleng Moloi is an independent curator and critic based in SA. Azu Nwagbogu is founder and director of the African Artists ’ Foundation, Nigeria. Azza Satti is an independent curator based in Kenya. Camilla van Hoogstraten is head of sales at Latitudes Online, SA.
“This project, poised at the intersection of art and history, offers a unique platform to explore and celebrate the richness of African landscapes through the lenses of distinguished modernist and contemporary artists,” says Leyde, art researcher at Strauss & Co.
“The work in Curatorial Voices: African Landscape, Past and Present highlights the diverse cultural, historical and environmental factors that have shaped artistic representation of the African landscape.
“By including new voices and perspectives, Strauss & Co aims to deepen the understanding and appreciation of African art among collectors and art lovers. We also aim to underscore the dynamic role of African art within the global art landscape.”
Curatorial Voices: African Landscape, Past and Present concludes with a live auction on Monday, 19 February 2024 at 7pm CAT in Strauss & Co’s Cape Town sale room.