ART TO GOGO
Easel does it for Craig Jacobs
● With thriving galleries and scene-stealing museums like Zeitz MOCAA and the recently opened Norval Foundation, there is no doubt that Cape Town has the upper hand on Joburg when it comes to art.
And the glue that binds the Mother City art scene is undoubtedly the Investec Cape Town
Art Fair, which is now in its seventh edition.
Walking into the hall at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on Thursday evening for the fair’s vernissage (preview) I pass the balloon stand with its subversively titled balloons by Cape Town artist Ed Young.
One of the first people I spot is someone hoping to take over the reins of the province from that tax revolt activist Helen Zille.
Those are big heels to fill, I tell the DA’s Western Cape premier candidate Alan Winde, to which he nods his head and says, “Yes, big shoes …”
Speaking of shoes, someone who was proud to show me that his were a lot more visible after heeding my advice and shortening the hems of his pants was Alan’s DA leader, Mmusi Maimane.
Enough, though, about politicians, you’ll want to know about the art and I spot former TV personality-cum-business person Carol Bouwer coveting a canvas by Joburg artist Azael Langa.
Azael has an intriguing technique: he produces evocative works like one titled Home Is A Feeling using ink and smoke.
Past another striking piece, a mixedmedia work by the controversial Ayanda Mabulu paying tribute to Winnie Madikizela-Mandela at the Kalashnikovv Gallery stand, and on to the Gallery Momo section where gallerist Monna Mokoena is attending to one of his biggest new clients.
Monna looks dapper in a sorbet pink pinstripe suit while the client, Belgian art collector Galila Barzilaï-Hollander, wears a distinctive pleated shift by Japanese designer Issey Miyake.
All across the sprawling space, which houses more than 100 galleries and exhibitors from across the continent and the globe, I spot familiar faces who frequent these sorts of things, like Trevyn McGowan of the Southern Guild gallery, and Nelson Makamo, the artist who made this column’s The A-List last year — and whose artwork made the cover of Time magazine last week.
Then there were folk who you wouldn’t expect, like former Miss SA Cindy Nell, there with her business person husband Clive Roberts.
One of the biggest drawcards at the fair was that South African icon known for her dexterity with a chicken-feather brush, Ma’Esther Mahlangu, and I enjoyed meeting one of the many artists giving the fair a more continental flavour: Patrick Bongoy, whose work is inspired by his Democratic Republic of Congo roots.
Style-wise, I thought Monna looked dapper and Galila the epitome of chic, but best-dressed for me would have to be art collector Sanette Coetzer in a whimsical Ted Baker dress featuring a print that was picture perfect.