Galleries, artists and curators from around the country gathered for the ninth edition of the annual Turbine Art Fair (Taf).
The much-anticipated event, which took place from October 1 to 3, not only provided a platform to showcase and sell contemporary art but also served as an opportunity to introduce new and upcoming artists to the scene.
Founded by The Forum Company in 2013, this was the first accessible and affordable South African art fair aimed at small-scale and emerging galleries as well as emerging artists and collectors, working toward growing the market for South African contemporary art.
“Our vision for Taf has always been to develop young artists and grow the market for African art as well as elevate art collecting across a wider market,” said founder Glynis Hyslop.
This year’s edition featured 30 exhibitors and an astounding 182 artists from all across Southern Africa. “We believe that it is imperative that we continue to support and champion emerging artists and continue conversations around art, collecting and keeping the art ecosystem engaged for its survival and growth,” Hyslop added.
This year’s fair included five exhibitions. A mentorship programme Taf Unearthed aimed to address the needs of artists; while a new feature exhibition Taf Off the Grid highlighted the work of four mid-career South African artists.
It also included Sculpt, which showed a selection of contemporary site-specific sculpted pieces; Sublime, an immersive multimedia experience; and the Graduate Show, an exhibition of a selection of exceptional art students currently in their fourth or final year.
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