The Turbine Art Fair
The Turbine Art Fair returns to the iconic Turbine Hall in Newtown for the third year from the 16th – 19th July. Once again, the aim of the fair is to provide a platform for galleries, curators and art organisations to promote emerging and established talent in an accessible and enjoyable way. All exhibited artwork is priced below R40 000 with the intention of promoting new art audiences and collector bases. This year’s fair will feature over 40 galleries and exhibits, and visitors can also enjoy live music, artisan food and drink, books and publications, an interactive talks series as well as a children’s programme and much more!
Every year new additions have been added to the programme, and this year boasts an exciting array of special projects. We’ve been following the new wave of young painters for some time now, and so are very excited to see Emerging Painters: The Graduate Show curated by Hentie van der Merwe, Senior Lecturer and Head of Fine Arts at the Visual Arts Department, Stellenbosch University. The exhibition aims to track the resurgence of the medium and present some of the best examples of its application, featuring post-graduate work from these departments across the country: Michaelis Art School (UCT), Rhodes University, Stellenbosch University, Wits School of Arts (WSOA) and University of Johannesburg (UJ).
Another project we’re looking forward to is An Exhibition of International Works on Paper from the Johannesburg Art Gallery in association with Strauss & Co and Artinsure. Pablo Picasso, Lucien Freud, Salvador Dali, Roy Lichtenstein and Damien Hirst are among the big-name artists featured in this special exhibition that will showcase original drawings, mixed media works and multiples by some of the greatest and most influential international artists of the 20th and 21st Centuries. Many people forget, or simply do not know, that the Johannesburg Art Gallery, founded in 1915 in the heart of the city, has the largest collection of art in Africa. This exhibition will shed light on some of the treasures housed within the museum’s collection, and simultaneously celebrate the genres and scope of paper works, which are often more affordable and accessible to collectors.
Visitors are also invited to attend a talk by Professor Karel Nel, head of acquisitions at the Johannesburg Art Gallery. The talk will offer insight into the artists represented as well as how the collection has taken shape over the last hundred years. The whole of the Talks Programme, which runs throughout the day on Saturday and Sunday, once again promises a wealth of insight and information for new art buyers, collectors and anyone interested in art. You can take a look at the full programme here.
Other special projects to look forward to include the return of the Fresh Produce: Emerging Artists exhibition hosted by VANSA and supported by Rand Merchant Bank. This year’s exhibit is curated by Zanele Mashumi with professional mentoring for the young artists facilitated by Assemblage. The Turbine Art Fair & Sylt Emerging Artist Residency Award (TASA) will also be officially presented to painter Sarah Biggs during the fair.
Fair info:
Thursday 16th July: 18h00 – 22h00 Opening Preview Evening
Friday 17th July: 10:00 – 20:00 Public, Pensioners, Scholars & Students. Live music and street-style food from 17h00 – 20h00
Saturday 18th July: 10:00 –18:00
Sunday 19th July: 10:00 –17:00
Ticket Costs: R85 at the door
Weekend passes: R180
Preview cocktail event: R495 per person (Includes welcome drink, wine and cocktail dinner)