The 10th edition of the Cape Town art fair will take place from Friday February 17 to Sunday February 19, with over 23 000 visitors expected at the Cape Town International Conference Centre (CTICC).
The Atlantic Sun interviewed artists about this prestigious event and what it means to them and art enthusiasts.
Turiya Magadlela, 45, from Gardens, has been attending the event since its inception and will be represented by the Kalashnikovv gallery.
“I’ve been featured as an artist, as a curator and I have to attend this art fair as well as Joburg’s art fair. I think we need more of this,” said Ms Magadlela.
She says she is excited to showcase her new series Umjuluko (sweat in Zulu) which will feature Ubomvu, meaning red, or pain or beauty.
“My work when you see it, it looks easy, but it’s not. It’s labour intensive and I do get tired and I get sweaty. And the compositions we will showcase took the most labour,” she said.
“I’m always surprised by artists that stretch their imagination, that create something new and that are backed by their galleries to go through the creative process. For me its about the investors, the galleries and the artists who have great relationships with each other.”
Ms Magadlela says that art is important as it stimulates the mind and the spirit and even if you are not an art buyer just seeing art work can ignite what is in your heart.
“Why is anything that stimulates us as human beings important? We could easily be stimulated by drugs but we choose not to do that. We could easily be stimulated by sexual activity and indulge with multiple partners but we choose not to do that as it’s also alot of work. There’s so many things in the world that stimulates us as human beings but one of the safest is being a voyeur to an art work, to someone’s world, to someone’’s mind,” she said.
Mathias Hornung, 58, is from Berlin, but resides in Camps Bay and is also no stranger to the art fair. The Anna Laudel gallery will be featuring his artwork called Digital Melt, a combination of woodblocks and woodprints.
“I was at the art fair last year as a guest and I envisioned being part of it and here I am. I am so excited to be part of this art fair,” said Mr Hornung.
“Art is passion, and passion is important to me and that is what I want to see. In my life I have seen many people that are not passionate so I am always happy to be surrounded by passionate people and very often that’s artists,” he said.
Mia Chaplin, 33, from Tamboerskloof is a creator of thick impasto paintings and sculptures and will be exhibiting a large triptych with WHATIFTHEWORLD gallery.
“I’m really looking forward to SOLO:Time’s Labyrinth curated by Sean O’Toole. This selection of works by 10 artists, including Jeanne Gaigher, Simphiwe Buthelezi and Lunga Ntila, will be spread across the fair. I’m also looking forward to seeing Githan Coopoo’s clay vessels at his solo booth with Everard Read,” said Ms Chaplin.
She says that art is a window and a mirror simultaneously and that every individual sees an artwork differently.
“Engaging with an artwork might show you a new perspective and encourage you to look at the world in a different way, while also helping you to connect with or to see parts of yourself better,” she said.
