The exhibition of contemporary and modern African art at the recently held FNB Art Joburg signalled Joburg’s techniques to display its vast artistic qualities.
Hosted under new management for the first time in history, this year’s edition of Art Joburg ran between Friday, 13 and Sunday, 15 September.
The event featured a new name, FNB Art Joburg, and has a new look and feel, given that it is now 100 percent black owned, a first for the country.
The new look art fair is designed to be smaller, focused and to create a platform for more African artists to have their work featured. Exhibitors are by invitation only and they have to meet an eligible criteria.
“What we are offering is actually a shift to African art. We cannot have a narrative without Africa in the story. We are engaging with the audiences of the future,” said the new proprietor and curator, Mandla Sibeko.
Sibeko adds that the new look FNB Art Joburg marks a significant milestone in his career. He said the art fair will continue its focus on Africa art in future events.
The event played host to scores of visual artists from all over the globe, who presented their work for display from 17 galleries.
Picture by Jacob Sewela
Liza Essers, the owner of the only major gallery wholly owned by a woman on the African continent, was one of the invited exhibitors. Her works featured prominently at the fair and Essers was delighted with the rebrand. “We are now aligned to what an international art fair should look like,” she said.
FNB Art Joburg was hosted in conjunction with the City. “We welcome the City as an important partner in boosting investment in this particular economic and cultural hub, which is an important art destination in the country,” said Sibeko.
“We believe there is no better place than Johannesburg, the cultural and economic capital of Africa to show all of our best artists under one roof,” he added.
