This Holiday we visited the Norval Art Gallery. The exhibition is on until August when the beautiful and compelling work of William Kentridge will go on exhibition. It is always a little tricky taking younger children to an art exhibition but I really want to encourage this to be an exhibition that artsy kids will enjoy. The trick is not to feel that one has to see the entire exhibition but rather dip in and focus until the enjoyment runs out.
What is so great?
Part one of the exhibition focus on South African artists.
These artist works are grouped together as they focus on the human body. Each there are a variety of mediums and styles including sculpture. It is interesting to note the black artists from the 1960 's.
Upstairs is an interesting history exhibition of the famous Shwe Shwe fabric.
South African artist Sydney Kumalo has many works on exhibit. His sculpture work is rich and expressive
Even if one wanted to simply wander in the beautiful gardens and enjoy the sculptures that are shared , that would be a delight to the soul.
David Goldblatt is a South African Photographer who has a section of work on exhibit. His work is simple and striking not only because of the time that he has photographed but also because of the contrast he draws with his work in a true and honest way. the focus here is on the Jo burg goldmines. I grew up with the gold mines chatter in our home. being a Joburg gal and having a grandparents who lived on a mine and a mom that grew up on a mine, I felt connected to his photographs.
His photos are exceelent in exposing the truth of gold mining and Apartheid in a blunt and obvious way but in a way that one can hold. He lift up the humanity of miners in his work and shines light on the injustices that existed .
I recommend these art exhibitions to everyone who would love t walk down art history in South Africa .
