From Global African Times
South African art is the art created by the people who live in modern South Africa, which is where some of the world’s oldest art objects were found.
Modern South African art reflects the experiences of South African people during apartheid and the impact of European influence in the region. It is evident in the art created by Africans as they navigate contemporary traditions and the influence of the Dutch on both white and black artists.
Tribal art in South Africa encompasses diverse forms like beadwork, pottery, wood carving, mask making, and body adornment. These forms are closely tied to the cultural and spiritual beliefs of the tribes and play a role in rituals, ceremonies, and daily life.
From the rock art of the San to the most recent contemporary museum in Cape Town, ZEITZ MOCAA, South Africa’s history of art is a long and interesting one. Often this history is closely tied to the political landscape, and most times reflects that landscape.
Maloti-Drakensberg Transfrontier Park (recognized by UNESCO as a mixed cultural and World Heritage site) boasts of the largest group of rock paintings to be found in sub-Saharan Africa. This can be considered the earliest example of visual art, with subject matter that extends beyond the simple visual representations of day-to-day life towards a representation of spiritual and religious beliefs of the South African people.
One of the oldest galleries in the country, the Goodman Gallery, situated in Johannesburg, was established in 1966 by Linda Givon. It quickly became an important instrument towards challenging the Apartheid laws that sought to segregate black and white people through all spheres of ordinary life, including arts and culture. In the early years, the gallery presented exhibitions by black artists such as David Koloane, Dumile Feni, and Sydney Khumalo, who went on to play an active role in the creation and sustenance of The Federated Union of Black Artists (FUBA), established in 1978. Its main purpose was to collaboratively work with artists of different disciplines, particularly around issues of ownership and distribution. The Goodman Gallery remains a critical vessel through which to explore art history in relation to commerce.
South Africa boasts of a number of homegrown exports who have gone on to create remarkable bodies of work as well as contributing to the global art discourse. Among these are William Kentridge, Zanele Muholi, Kemang Wa Lehulere, David Goldblatt, Mmakgabo Helen Sebidi and Mary Sibande.
We’re also very proud of icons such as Esther Mahlangu, a painter of large-scale works with references to the Ndebele heritage, who has exhibited and collaborated with international artists including Yoko Ono.
South Africa is home to a number of world-class institutions such as The Wits School of Arts in Johannesburg (offering programmes in digital art, fine art, film & television, history of art, theatre/performance, and more), Michaelis School of Fine Art in Cape Town, and the Market Photo Workshop in Johannesburg. Over the years these have been significant in fostering a strong connection between art and activism.
Metropolitan cities like Johannesburg, Durban, and Cape Town make up a good part of the South African art scene, but some smaller towns have and continue to make a name for themselves. Among these are Parys in the Free State and Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape (to be renamed Makhanda, honouring Nxele, a Xhosa warrior, philosopher, and prophet). Grahamstown is the host town to the National Arts Festival, an important event in South Africa’s arts calendar. The festival originated in 1974 and has gained a reputation as the leading arts festival, showcasing the best art in Africa through performances, comedy shows, visual art exhibitions, and more.
Clarens in the Free State boasts a myriad of explorations, with a number of great restaurants and outdoor activities. Smaller galleries such as Addy & Hoyle Art Gallery and Art and Wine Gallery add to the scene.
Some Art Galleries in South Africa that you need to visit include:
- African Craft Market of Rosebank
- Dylan Lewis Sculpture Garden
- Grand Provence Estate
- Everard Read Gallery
- Rupert Museum
- Senechal-Senekal Art Gallery
- African Trading Port
- Standard Bank Gallery
- Lembu Gallery & Studio
- Norval Foundation
- Scarab Village
- Porcupine Ceramics
- Art Eye Gallery
- Stone Fish Studio and Gallery
- Christopher Moller Gallery
- I was shot in Joburg
- Alice Art Gallery
- African Art Centre
- StateoftheART Gallery
- Tatham Art Gallery
- Tobias Art
- Johann van Heerden’s Art Gallery
- Kim Sacks Gallery
- Magpie Gallery
- Art and Wine Gallery on Main
- Marlene Neumann Center for Photography and Light
- Cavalli Art Gallery
- The Cape Malay Art Exhibition- Bo Kaap
- B Artworks Gallery
- Franschhoek Art House
Stay connected to Global African Times as we explore these art galleries in depth.
So, whenever you are in the city of Johannesburg, Cape Town, or Eastern Cape add to your bucket list – a visit to any of the art sites in South Africa.
