Positioned as the most prestigious and leading art fair in Africa, Investec Cape Town Art Fair will take place between the 16-18th of February 2018 in the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC). The fair will feature very important names from all over the World and from Africa and its diaspora, as well as young artists and newly emerging galleries. It will not only bring the best examples of African Contemporary Art to the World scene but also will turn this vibrant and dynamic city into a cultural hub.
Since its first edition six years ago, Investec Cape Town Art Fair has become one of the most important fairs which introduced South African art and artists and its diaspora to the world, and encouraged an artistic and cultural dialogue. Every year it forms an economic platform both in the city and beyond, which plays a key role in the growth of the South African art market through increased purchases and participation. It continues to develop knowledge and expertise in art industry. According to the fair director Laura Vincenti, ‘’the fair provides a platform to showcase works by both established and emerging Pan-African and diasporic artists and exposing these artists to new local and international audiences and collectors, to further a sustainable market for the arts on the continent.”
Cape Town, with its geography and cultural diversity, is a special city for collectors, art lovers and professionals. Thanks to the rich fair program made of panels and talks, special exhibits and installations and video screenings after fair hours, the fair will make Cape Town an artistic habitat during 24 hours a day.
What do we see in the 2018 edition? Sponsored by Investec, this year fair features approximately 85 galleries and 75 artists from all over the World. Galleries from South Africa, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Italy and UK will showcase a rich collection of visual arts such as traditional arts, paintings, drawings and sculpture. In the MAIN SECTION, we see a total of 37 leading international galleries including October Gallery London, Worldart Cape Town, ArtCO GALLERY and Art FIRST. TOMORROWS/TODAY features new emerging gallery and artists, who are considered as today’s young and dynamic actors that will be tomorrow’s important leading names. Curated by Tumelo Mosaka, this section features a total of 10 galleries.
When we look at new sections and additions to the fair, firstly we see SOLO. In its first iteration, the section is curated by Nontobeko Ntombla and is dedicated to women artists. Galleries and works on display in SOLO will offer different perspectives towards socio-political issues faced by women, while also highlighting their contribution to the art world.
Another new and important part of the fair is the AFTER HOURS HUB. As part of the project, a special film screening program entitled ‘Harboured’ will take place. The best examples of video art will meet with the public in three spaces located in Cape Town’s art and culture centre, Silo region. Curated by Brent Meistre, this program will screen video art by important artists after fair hours. The screenings will last throughout the entire evening, until 11 pm, and will make art accessible to the public for 24 hours.
When we look at the commissioned works, we see three important artists, Lungiswa Gqunta, Turiya Magadlela and Sethembile Msezane. These artists were commissioned to create installations that represent women’s domestic life. Made of objects found in domestic spaces, these installations which will feature in the UNFRAMED section will comment on the roles of women, and hence present a different fair experience which goes beyond traditional booth exhibits.
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Simge Erdoğan