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| Hip and happening new art venue in town
August 10, 2005 Edition 1
Miranthe Staden-Garbett
Art from two metropoles
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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