Turbine Art Fair celebrates 5 years of contemporary South African art

The fifth edition of the Turbine Art Fair (TAF), brought to you by the forum company, will take place at the iconic Turbine Hall, Johannesburg from 14 to 16 July 2017 with a First Access experience on the evening of 13 July.

TAF has firmly established itself as a must-attend event on the annual South African art calendar by offering visitors an opportunity to view and buy quality artwork from emerging and established talent in a fun and un-daunting way with great live music, artisan food, all curated within the heritage building that is Turbine Hall in the heart of Newtown. “The Turbine Art Fair has undoubtedly made its mark as a not-to-be-missed event for art lovers and those looking to learn more about South Africa’s rich art scene. With over 50 galleries and exhibits from across South Africa there’s bound to be something to catch everyone’s eye,” says Glynis Hyslop, TAF Fair Director. All applications have been carefully considered to ensure compliance with the core values of the fair and its organisers. Exhibitors whether galleries, collectives or dealers are invited to exhibit contemporary artwork priced below R50 000 incl. VAT. TAF17 will see numerous exciting projects and exhibitions take place within the Fair as well as a free talks programme sponsored by Artinsure, guided walkabouts for both adults and children alike as well as a dedicated children’s area hosted by Staedtler.

Dates and times:

13 July

18h00 – 21:00

First Access cocktail event with substantial canapés and wine included in ticket price.

Tickets R750 per person via webtickets

14 July

11h00 – 20h00 (live music featuring Abby Nurock and artisan food from 17:00 – 20:00)

15 July

10h00 – 18h00 

(TAF Artinsure talks, walkabouts and children’s area all commence)

16 July

10h00 – 17h00

(TAF Artinsure talks, walkabouts and children’s area all continue)

Tickets:

R100 at the door or R90 online via webtickets

R200 Weekend pass (Fri, Sat & Sun)

R50 children, students & pensioners

TAF17 Highlights and special projects

TAF talks sponsored by Artinsure

“Conversations about collecting’ is curated by Art Advisor, Makgati Molebatsi and is proudly sponsored by Artinsure.

“Why do people collect art? The panels, consisting of collectors and artists, will be sharing their stories behind their collections. How they started, what interests and attracts them, and why do they continue with their acquisitions. In acquiring artworks, do they buy within and beyond the walls. Do they think ‘my walls are full’ and stop with their acquisition, or do they continue beyond the confines of the walls, turning their acquisitions into collections? Does the term beyond the walls lead them to acquire installation art, performance art and digital media? The conversations will explore these motivations, examining the diverse world of contemporary art ecosystem, the role of the buyer, the artist, the gallery and the art fair within the art market“ says Makgati Molebastsi, curator TAF Talks.

Topic 1 – ‘ Collecting beyond the walls”

Tladi Marumo – interviewer  

Tshepo Hlongwane – collector, director and founder of browneyedboys  Consulting, Trader at Liberty

Dawood Petersen – collector and attorney 

Nomahlubi Sheri – collector  

Tamzin Lovell – gallerist 

Topic 2 – ‘ Artists and Collecting – are they interested in building massive collections?’

Makgati Molebatsi – interviewer 

Lawrence Lemaona – artist and lecturer at UNISA

Nelson Makamo – artist 

Usha Seerjarim – artist 

Topic 3 – A Collector

Anton Taljaard/Pierneef exhibition 

Alongside the talks there will be guided walkabouts with artists and curators as well as 2 artistic movie screenings.

Anton Taljaard Exhibition

Strauss & Co and Artinsure are proud to co-sponsor an exhibition of Pierneef from the collection of Anton Taljaard at TAF17. Inspired by his parents, who were avid collectors themselves, Anton accompanied them to collect their latest Pierneef acquisition from a prominent Johannesburg gallery, where he promptly bought his first artwork, a Pierneef linocut, at the age of 13. He has
been collecting ever since, and today Anton is respected as one of the foremost collectors of modern and contemporary South African art. He has a penchant for Pierneef, with a vast collection of all the mediums in which Pierneef worked. Of particular note is the very special group of Pierneef’s rare caseins. The exhibition at TAF17 encompasses top examples from Anton’s collection, ranging from etchings to watercolours and oil paintings, showing the artist’s diversity in all its splendour. Of special note is Anton’s collection of the etching plates Pierneef used in his lifetime. They will be on exhibition, together with prints pulled from these by Pippa Skotnes from the Michaelis Art School, University of Cape Town. In addition, the Artist Proof Studio students will demonstrate the linocut technique as part of the exhibition. These students study Pierneef’s graphic work as part of their curriculum, and they will be showing how their work is inspired by the master.

Talent Unlocked

Sponsored by RMB, Talent Unlocked curated again by Rolihlahla Mhlanga is aimed at creating an opportunity for selected artists who are young and emerging, to participate and showcase on a global stage. Assemblage in collaboration with VANSA and Turbine Art Fair will be running a 6-month intensive workshop programme that integrates practical art-making (focusing on process and conceptual development) and professional practice training. The aim is to provide the artists with a comprehensive programme that encompasses the necessary tools to help build and sustain a career in the industry. The ultimate outcome is to strengthen the artists work as a whole by providing those who participate not only a guide through the development of their work but very importantly the tools in order to put their career into action within the industry. There are a total of 15 artists that have been selected to exhibit at TAF17: Johan Stegman, Alexander Von Klitzing, Katlego Modiri, Nkhensani Rihlampfu, Claudia Monyama, Sechaba Meloa, Odette Graskei, Mmabatho Mokalapa, Mary-Lee Makunye, Nosipho Nombuso Maseko, Lutendo Malatji, Chrisel van der Merwer, Kiyara Ananmalay, Isaac Zavale and Jodi Tracey

Graduate Painters Show

Curated by Jessica Webster in collaboration with Amber-Jade Geldenhuys and MC Roodt, the title of the exhibition is Touch and will feature paintings which emphasise surface quality and texture in which the meaning of the work is made. This brings a wide variety of painterly forms into focus such as how thick layers of paint may heighten a sense of the psycho-somatic or how painting in ultra-thin layers provokes an experience of the ethereal. Alternatively, painting in hyper-realistic ways can capture the visual textures of objects and figures. The show is aimed at evoking a deep impression of sensuality in material methods of painting. “We want the visitors to TAF to perceive how the choice of material and technique causes certain processes which inform the concept and effect of particular paintings. Moreover, references to the art-historical canon are also a significant means by which contemporary painting comes to have potency. The show will, therefore, be accompanied by a critical and explanatory piece of writing on each artist exhibited, which will suggest possible readings the viewer may take from the work “ says Jessica Webster, Curator.

Galleries taking part in TAF17