Curator Clive van den Berg is holding a walkabout of the fascinating Spier Contemporary 2007 exhibition at the Johannesburg Art Gallery today.

THERE will be a walkabout of the Spier Contemporary 2007 exhibition with curator Clive van den Berg at the Johannesburg Art Gallery (JAG) on Thursday, 17 April at 12pm.

The exhibition comprises of intriguing contemporary South African sculptures, paintings, photographs, videos, installations and performance art, all of which will be explored during the walkabout.

Featuring artists from all nine provinces, works on display range from urban and rural, professional and upcoming, to traditional art. "The Spier Contemporary 2007 is the biggest South African art exhibition in 2007 and 2008," reads the Spier Contemporary website.

It opened at the JAG on Sunday, 16 March, and will close on Saturday, 31 May. From Joburg, it will travel to the coastal city of Durban later in August. It began at the Spier Estate near Stellenbosch in Western Cape.

Biennial event
A biennial event, the exhibition is named after its primary sponsor, Spier. It is an initiative of the Africa Centre, an arts forum that aspires to be a multi-sited and multiple-usage space where the visual, intellectual and performance cultures of Africa, among others, are celebrated, studied and "brought to life for diverse audiences in innovative ways".

"How to represent South African contemporary art in all its diversity is a question that the Africa Centre sought to answer in conceptualising and producing the inaugural Spier Contemporary 2007 exhibition."

According to the organisers, about 2 500 works were submitted for the exhibition; however, only 100 pieces were finally chosen. These range from sculpture, painting and photography, to installation, video and performance art. "The result [is] a breathtaking exhibition ... that tells the fascinating story of who we are as a nation."

Since its launch, "it has been received with great enthusiasm and rave reviews both nationally and internationally".

Spier Contemporary 2007 is at the JAG until Saturday, 31 May.

The Johannesburg Art Gallery is on King George Street in Johannesburg, adjoining Joubert Park. It is open from Tuesdays to Sundays, from 10am to 5pm. For exhibition enquiries and confirmation of attendance email Tiny at the art gallery at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or call her on 011 725 3180.

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