SA Art Times May 2009
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THE SOUTH AFRICAN Issue : May 2009 Full free edition available at www.arttimes.co.za 1 Years subscription R 180 E-mail subs@arttimes for details TIMES ART Cecil Skotnes in his studio 1967 Photo: courtesy Pippa Skotnes Cecil Skotnes 1926 – 2009 As a tribute to this great man The Art Times has commissioned an artist’s profile on Cecil Skotnes. Also see Hayden Proud’s Obituary in SA Business Art . Art life renews itself through recession ‘What we’re going through is not unique,’ says Siebrits. ‘Sadly, no one is immune.’ Lim-Fat and Roger Signer of global wealth and putting their demand for morphosed from a hazy projection ‘phenomenally successful Art Fair’, This is no flash-in-the-pan, financial services company Credit art on ice. into an uncomfortable reality. the gallery’s doors will only be open fly-by-night gallery, but one of Alex Dodd Suisse. ‘Nowadays, deals are Still, all this nasty weather seemed until the end of May. Johannesburg’s most exacting taking longer to close. Buyers are quite distant and academic to us I tiptoed into January with a and scholarly minded contem- more prudent and taking more time down here in the sun-drenched dreaded sense is that our land- porary art institutions. Warren to get to know the paintings before South – until sales figures from the scape was going to be morphing Siebrits has been responsible for We started out the year on tenter- reaching a final decision.’ recent Joburg Art Fair came home quite irrevocably over the next few reviving the reputations of many hooks, not knowing how the global to roost. Art sales at this year’s Fair months and that the status quo we 20th century artists (Alfred Thoba, economic recession would hit our It didn’t help that a large percentage grossed R12-million, about half of currently take for granted as stand- Cyprian Shilakoe, Lucas Sithole…) local contemporary art market. Dark of contemporary art buyers in re- what was achieved last year – and ard and unchanging will, despite whose legacies were overlooked murmurings from over the stormy cent years have been cock-a-hoop this downturn despite the fact that Trevor Manuel’s bizarre assurances Siebrits will soon be embarking on a or underestimated due to their seas weren’t very encouraging, with hedge fund managers, as well as the Fair’s attendance was up by 4 to the contrary, undergo something new chapter working privately as a place in history under apartheid, as reports of the almost irrationally the newly bling emerging from mar- 000 and that the production value of a seismic shift. The first evidence Web-based dealer, specialising in rare art well as for adding muscle to some exuberant boom experienced since kets like Russia, China, the Middle of this year’s event way outstripped of the quake hit me this week, (warrensiebrits.co.za). His gallery might significant contemporary careers, 2005 crunching right down to a slow East and India, many of whom last year’s. It was a jackpot of a Fair with the lousy news that Warren not be around for much longer, but we’re from that of Jo Ractliffe to Gerard likely to hear more from this indomitable crawl. ‘Gone are the days when have caught a nasty cold during in every sense other than sales, Siebrits Modern and Contemporary character who has already made a Marx, Stefanus Rademeyer and artworks were being snapped up at the recent winter of our discontent, which can only really be attributed will soon be no more. Despite the significant mark on Sabelo Mlangeni. the blink of an eye,’ wrote Juliette with the credit crisis slashing their to the dreaded slump having meta- blessed irony of having just had a South African art history (continued on page 5) Non Toxic ALITY U P R PRELUDE Q O N D E U L L C E T Z Student Acrylic Paint 75ml FOR INFOMATION ON OUR OTHER PRODUCTS WILL VARY SLIGHTLY DUE TO TRANSPORT COSTS PHONE +27 28 271 3122. BLUE FLASH OF LOGO CYAN 100 Autumn 2009 Sale of Decorative and Fine Arts Stephan Welz and Company, in interest to admirers of Cape furniture. Ardmore. Hylton Nel (1941-) steals the A fine near pair of association with Sotheby’s, will hold In the evening session, a particularly show with his tin-glazed earthenware WMF Art Nouveau their 2009 Autumn Sale of Decorative well-preserved 19th Century Stinkwood ‘Crucifixion’ plaque (estimate R3 000 - Electroplate plaques and Fine Arts at the Kirstenbosch Rusbank (estimate R18 000 - R20 000) R4 000), an enigmatic earthenware (estimate R8 000 - National Botanical Gardens on 26 and and a 19th century Cape Yellowwood doll (estimate R4 000 - 6 000), and R10 000) are on 27 May 2009. The sale will be on view and Stinkwood Cradle (estimate two delightful tin-glazed earthenware offer, each depict- to the public from 22 to 24 May 2009. R3 000 - R5 000) are two items that plates: one decorated with an insect ing a woman in rarely appear on auction. (estimate R 7 000 - 9 000) and the profile surrounded FINE ARTS other decorated with a bird on a green by foliage. The Art Strong lyrical narratives by Marjorie A delightful collection of Toby Jugs, ground (estimate R 9 000 - R12 000). Nouveau move- Wallace are on offer with Ons available for the first time to collectors, The renowned Rorke’s Drift pottery ment was charac- (estimate R120 000 - R150 000), includes a Staffordshire ‘Ordinary’ Toby studio is showcased with a stoneware terised by organic a tender depiction of love between Jug, 1790-1810 (estimate R6 000 - vase executed in 1977 by Lephina subjects, especially Jan Rabie and Marjorie; Claude and R8 000). Although similar Delft jugs Molefe (estimate R6 000 - R8 000); a floral motifs, as the Children (estimate R70 000 - existed in the Netherlands, the Toby stoneware vase by Elizabeth Mbatha well as highly- R90 000), an intimate portrayal of Jug was first developed and popu- (estimate R5 000 - 7 000); two incised stylised, flowing Claude Bouscharain and her children; larised in England by the potter Ralph stoneware vases (estimate R8 000 - curvilinear forms. and Rachel and Ou Nooi with a letter Wood. A typical jug depicts a seated R10 000 each) and a two-handled bowl Art Nouveau was from Breyten (estimate R70 000 - man wearing an English ‘tricorn’ hat and cover (estimate R5 000 - R7 000), an approach to R100 000), the reading of a letter world with most being housed in bracket clock by G. J. Champion, Paris and holding a mug of beer and a glass all 1980, by Joel Sibisi. Sibisi’s action design according to which artists penned by the imprisoned writer National Collections.” (estimate R25 000 - R30 000) should or a pipe. The original jug is said to of carving out images in the slip should be involved with the design of Breyten Breytenbach, jailed by the attract much interest. This item, inlaid have been inspired by a song ‘Brown painted stoneware mirrors the act of everything from architecture to furni- State for high treason. Wallace, best Terence McCaw has a strong presence with tortoiseshell and richly decorated Jug’, popular in 1761, whose lyrics linocut production. Similarly the stylised ture, making art part of everyday life. known for her portrait studies, was in this sale with the particularly striking with mythological figures and beasts, featured ‘Toby Fillpot’. and somewhat naïve motifs closely trained at the Edinburgh College of Art View from the Artist’s Garden, Hout epitomises Rococo craftsmanship. mirror the iconography found in linouts. Collectors’ items include a Fruitwood and made such an impression that she Bay (estimate R120 000 - R150 000) Other clocks include a Dutch Frisian Another fine example of English Apple-shaped tea caddy (estimate became the youngest person to be one of six works by the artist due Wall Clock, circa 1850 (estimate ceramics is a Lucie Rie (1902-1995) Of historical interest is a group of R10 000 - R15 000), which dates to elected to the Royal Scottish Academy. to come under the hammer on the R8 000 - R10 000) and a novelty Asymetrical Stoneware Bowl (estimate Nine Rare Chinese Armorial Wares, the turn of the nineteenth century. Tea She met and married the writer Jan 26 May. McCaw was a founder mem- Jaeger Timepiece in the form of a R25 000 - R35 000), impressed with Qianlong, 1736-1795 (estimate which was a valuable commodity at Rabie in Paris in 1953, later a leading ber and active protagonist of the New lamp post (estimate R5 000 - R7 000). the designer’s initials. European R60 000 - R90 000), created for the that time, was kept under member of the Sestigers, and the Group, established in 1938 with Walter ceramics are well represented; in Cape market. Similar examples can lock and key. Also couple settled in Onrus in 1954. Battiss and Gregoire Boonzaier. While English and European furniture particular a striking Large De be found on p 126 and 127 of on offer for Amanda Botha, a friend of Wallace working closely with Boonzaier, McCaw collectors should bid competitively for Porceleyne Fles ‘Nieuw Delfts” vase Woodward’s “Oriental Ceramics at the the boy at and an art writer, said, “[people] were was also exposed to the work of first an 18th century oak and inlaid chest- 1910 -1920 (estimate R7 000 - 9 000) Cape of Good Hope, 1652-1795”. heart always important to Wallace, but she generation Cape Impressionist – Pieter on-stand (estimate R30 000 - R40 000) decorated in tones of blue and are never had a voyeur's approach.