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The largest contemporary art fair in Africa opens in Cape Town on February 21 with about 500 artists from 58 countries exhibiting.
The Investec Cape Town Art Fair may leave first-time buyers overwhelmed and in need of help on judging the value of exhibits. Fair director Laura Vincenti says new buyers need to take their time to explore and learn. “Spend a day or even the weekend exploring the fair.”
One gallery that offers more affordable prices and helps educate buyers is Artist Proof Studio (APS). It was founded in 1991 by printmaker Kim Berman and the late Nhlanhla Xaba, and is based in Houghton, Joburg. The studio also provides training and support for artists and will exhibit some of their work.
“Prints offer an ideal entry point into the high-end art world,” says Nathi Simelane of APS. He says it makes art more accessible with limited-edition prints retaining preservation and retaining investment potential.
A supporter of the studio is Tammy Jackson, who works in special risk insurance. She says when she started collecting art, she was advised “to collect and buy what I love and feel passionate about”. She says APS makes “beautiful works accessible to new and young collectors”.
Among emerging artists at the fair are Sizwe Khoza, Thokozani Madonsela, Raymond Fuyana and Bekezela Mabena along with the established Gerhard Human, Chelsea Selvan, Athenkosi Kwinana, Chrisél Attewell and DuduBloom More.
Art collector Robyn van der Riet has followed APS since it began. “The quality of the art they produce is of such an excellent standard ... from the students as well as the professional artists.”
About 124 foreign galleries at this year’s fair include a first appearance of Hunna Art, an independent contemporary gallery of Kuwait City, exhibiting works by Esam Ali, and Leesaya gallery in Tokyo, whose works include those by Japanese artists. Among them are Akiko Ando, Bontaro Dokuyama, Shusuke Tanaka and Tomohito Wakui.
Khulekani Ndzimande, who says he is relatively new to the art world, has developed an interest in art and investing in it. He is a trustee of the Stellenbosch Triennale, which takes place from February 19 to April 30, when the town becomes an open-air gallery under the theme “Ba’zinzile: A rehearsal for breathing”.
“The triennale is a fantastic way to start learning about art and collecting,” he says. “You can explore a diverse range of works, attend talks and connect with artists.”
He says the two artists he would invest in as a first-time collector — if you had R30,000 to spend — are Pule Dlothi and Nompumelelo Tshabalala.
Dlothi’s work has themes of cultural memory, identity and heritage. He explores Basotho initiation ceremonies and the role of mothers in the upbringing of boys, and reflects on historical injustices faced by the Basotho.
Tshabalala’s work examines identity, culture and representation, often through the use of imagery. She explores the symbolism of dress, fabric and adornments as markers of identity. Tshabalala uses blankets, veils and headscarves, positioning the female body as a canvas.
Elana Brundyn, an art consultant, says if money were no object, the two artists she would invest in are Lebohang Kganye and Tschabalala Self.
She says Kganye is a rising star in the South African art world and beyond. Her practice combines photography and sculpture to create a compelling visual language. She’s won global acclaim, including the Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation prize.
Kganye’s storytelling draws from personal and African narratives.
Self is an American artist who has become known for her bold depictions of black identity, and combines painting, collage and printmaking. She has billboards depicting women at leisure in contrasting settings on New York’s High Line, the stretch of park that follows the city’s old central railroad on the west side of
Manhattan.
Peta Dixon, Investec’s head of sponsorships, says the fair “allows us to be part of an impactful partnership that celebrates the richness of African art and its borderless resonance”.
“We believe in the transformative power of art to foster understanding and innovation, aligning with our vision of bridging local creativity with international curiosity.”
She says the partnership elevates the profile of artists and supports cultural excellence and innovation. “By investing in the arts, we contribute to the growth of industries that are vital to our communities, both locally and internationally.”
The fair takes place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from February 21 to 23.
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