Sunday November 12 sees Aspire Art Auctions host its latest sale in Johannesburg, featuring a range of impeccably selected and important historic, modern and contemporary works. A full programme of walkabouts, film screenings, panel discussions and social events forms the build-up to what promises to be a significant auction.
Historic highlights
A number of superb examples of historic painting come to auction, dating back to the late nineteenth century. Among them is Seascape with gulls and boulders by Hugo Naudé, from 1898; a rare sculpture by Anton Van Wouw from 1907, Bad News, which is an excellent example of his smaller works, cast locally in Johannesburg; as well as beautifully rendered and representative early twentieth century paintings by Dorothy Kay (The Train) and Neville Lewis (Pondo Woman). Added to these fine works is a gem of a painting by Pieter Wenning, Skoolgebou, Bishopscourt, (1918). The jewel in the crown, however, is J.H. Pierneef’s Die Kommandoboom, op pad na Sibasa (The Commando Tree on the road to Sibasa). This oil on canvas work is created in the same prolific period that also produced Pierneef’s most critically well-received work, the famous Station Panels.
Modern Masters
There can rarely have been a better collection of mid-twentieth century modern work by some of South Africa’s best-known artists at auction. One of Edoardo Villa’s important bronzes, Reclining figure, from his pivotal mid-1960s period is a highlight. Another important mid-century sculpture comes to this auction, Mythological Rider (1970) by the celebrated Sydney Kumalo. Maggie Laubser’s painting from 1958, Wild Flowers, is a fine example of the artist’s more abstracted style of depicting the natural world which she developed at this time. Irma Stern’s painting The Garden (1941) is an unusually domestic landscape for the artist, depicting her own garden view seen through her studio doors in Rondebosch.
Contemporary quality
Aspire is making a statement about its credentials in the contemporary market with the quality and depth of work on offer at this auction. Apart from the magisterial Kentridge drawing from the film Mine (Soho with coffee plunger and cup) from 1991 on the sale, an important one-off work by lauded young contemporary artist Mohau Modisakeng is on offer. Ga Etsho 1 (2015) is a precursor to the later series of the same name. Brett Murray’s Rainbow over Nkandla (2013) continues his satirical viewpoint on SA’s political life, and can be seen alongside the highly respected Penny Siopis, who shows a delicate work on paper from 2007, Weep. Joachim Schönfeldt’s Untitled is a powerful wooden sculpture from this well-known Johannesburg-based artist. An important oil on canvas by Robert Hodgins, Office Hours (2006), is a splendid example of his larger format later painting. “There is a rare mix of important work on this auction,” comments Aspire director and auctioneer Ruarc Peffers. “We’re excited by the quality and the breadth of offering in the various market segments, and look forward to an exciting auction on Sunday.”
Upcoming Auction details:
Aspire’s Spring sale is on 12 November 2017, at the prestigious Gordon Institute of Business Science, 26 Melville Road, from 17:00.
Auction previews:
Thursday 9 November: 10:00 to 17:00 | Friday 10 November: 10:00 to 17:00 | Saturday 11 November: 10:00 to 17:00 | Sunday 12 November: 10:00 to 15:00
Exhibition walkabouts:
Saturday 11 & Sunday 12 November at 12:00
For gratis and obligation-free valuations, and to consign works of art to the upcoming Cape Town auction, please contact:
Cape Town
Emma Bedford | emma@aspireart.net | +27 83 391 7235
Marelize van Zyl | marelize@aspireart.net | +27 83 283 7427
Johannesburg
Jacqui Carney | jacqui@aspireart.net | +27 71 675 2991
Mary-Jane Darroll | mj@aspireart.net | +27 82 567 1925
Ruarc Peffers | ruarc@aspireart.net | +27 84 444 8004
