Art from two metropoles
Hip and happening new
art venue in town
August 10, 2005 Edition
1
By Miranthe
Staden-Garbett
There’s a hip and happening new
joint in town, a much-needed platform for artists to
exhibit their work. The Fried Contemporary Art Gallery
opened its doors on Saturday night with a bang (and some
whimpers).
Venue: Fried Contemporary Art
Gallery and Studio, Charles Street
Date: until August
19
There’s a hip and happening new joint
in town, a much-needed platform for artists to exhibit
their work. The Fried Contemporary Art Gallery opened
its doors on Saturday night with a bang (and some
whimpers).
I had to park two blocks away which,
while not good for me, bodes well for Pretoria’s
somewhat dismal art scene, if it means loads of people
are going out on a Saturday night to look at
Art.
I, myself, have been out of circulation for
a while, participating in the altogether other creative
process of having a baby, which it turns out tends to
radically revise one’s perception of many things,
including art. It is with my brand new eyes that I
approached this show.
Some questions seemed
pertinent regarding both this show, of more or less
renowned artists from “two metropoles”, and the
aforementioned art scene in general.
What makes
art valid or worthwhile? Is it about beauty,
originality, substance, style, relevance, fashion or
wit? There were very few pieces which actually had all
of these qualities, and even fewer which had even one in
any abundance.
The Dyslexic alphabet book was
one of the exceptions. It got and held my attention,
interest and desire. This ABC book reveals “the complex
wisdoms of the dyslexic community” and makes them more
“assessable to those who suffer from corrective language
disorder, LCD”.
It goes for some R3 000 but it’s
the kind of thing that’s worth having.
It was a
conversation piece – for example, I had a conversation
with a very accommodating fellow who helped to alleviate
me of my ignorance on the subject of dyslexia.
We both agreed it was the most interesting work
on display. In addition to making me want to learn more
about dyslexia, it is humorous, beautifully presented,
inventive and imaginative.
Ian Marley, the
creator of this marvellous dook, (or if you must, book)
turns the tables on those who have what he refers to as
LCD, those poor unfortunate individuals, such as myself,
who limit themselves by obsessing over correct spelling
and the like.
It is painlessly postmodern;
quirky, relevant and witty without being tiresome.
Other pieces worth seeing are Willem Boshoff’s
Ching chong cha, Jan van der Merwe’s Water and Rust, and
a colourful sculpture by Collen Maswanganyi. And Celia
de Villier’s three-clawed cyber-stiletto is still
haunting me. The space is oozing with potential,
atmospheric and welcoming.
So, my brand new
eyes, though met with some “been there and done”, saw
enough at the brand new gallery to walk away on their
stalks.Conversation piece: Artist’s book by Ian
Marley.Worth seeing: Jan van der Merwe’s Water and
Rust.Eyecatching: A sculpture by Collen Maswanganyi.
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