Sanlam, in conjunction with Polokwane Municipality, will host a once-in-a-lifetime, one-of-a-kind art exhibition at the Polokwane Art Museum from today (Thursday) until 12 June.
The theme of the event is ‘Centennial: A Century of South African Art from the Sanlam Art Collection 1918 – 2018’. “Artists will always make visible the unseen in our society. They transform the vagaries of political machinations and corruptions into images and experiences that make us more sensitive to these, whilst allowing for other interpretations,” curator of the exhibition Stefan Hundt, said.
The exhibition features some of the country’s foremost celebrated and emerging talent – the likes of Richard Mudariki, Tracey Rose and Ndikumbule Ngqinambe – and takes viewers on a journey through 100 years of SA’s history, through the prestigious works that comprise the Sanlam Art Collection.
The Sanlam Art Collection, established in 1965, is among the most respected in the country, and consists of more than 2,000 items.
Hundt said that this was the first time the Polokwane Art Museum is showcasing numerous pieces from the Sanlam Art Collection, in a unique exhibition which features over 70 works, spanning a Century of South African art, “Usually, corporate collections are inaccessible to the public and hidden in an office environment. From the get-go, Sanlam has consciously prioritised doing the opposite. Art is something for us to share; challenges us; to take delight in; and educate ourselves. It’s a critical part of our history and something we all need to have the opportunity to explore,” he said.
“Wandering through the exhibition is a way to be visually immersed in this journey, from challenging works from past legends like William Kentridge, Elza Botha, Maggie Laubser, Gerard Sekoto, Sydney Kunmalo, Ezrom Legae, Gladys Mgudlandlu, Cecil Skotnes and Irma Stern to fresh perspectives from Johannes Maswangani, Adam Letch and Jan van der Merwe, Hundt adds.
Story: BARRY VILJOEN
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