Joburg visit (updated)

Radio silence. It is mine. But not today.

In the last few weeks, I’ve turned in a draft of my dissertation, moved out of Dublin, been to Zurich, and now I’m seeing friends and family in Johannebsurg before our big move back to the states (for me and Nicole – Sidonie has never lived there!). It’s been quite a ride, all too short, but also wonderful. I hadn’t realize how homesick I am for South Africa, and I’m a little sad about the reality that it may not be my physical home again for some time to come (despite my excitement about the new life and job in Milwaukee). It’s very important for me to maintain ties here….

Anyhow, I’m having a mostly lazy Sunday (went to the Zoo and now a picnic) in the sun (is it just me, or are Winters in Joburg so much warmer and lovelier than Summers – any time of year, really – in Dublin?… Don’t get me wrong; Dublin is great — just not for its weather!). So lazy, in fact, that I don’t imagine I’ll spend much time on this blog. Perhaps it’ll really pick up again when I am slightly settled into the Midwest, as I entertain an interest in the local scene; but for now, expect intermittent posts on random tidbits, as has been the case for the last couple of years, since initially leaving South Africa….

I will mention, however, a few shows I saw on the gallery strip over the last while.

The Fetish, 2008, Mixed Media

Most notable for me was probably Michael MacGarry’s solo at Art Extra. The show took some real risks, with some brilliant results – mostly through juxtapositions of politicized and contextual materials. He doesn’t always succeed as well as I think he does with the work above (which I love and Ellen hates – we both agreed that our talking about it for such a long while is a good sign for him), but his intentions are usually quite clear and admirable, and the large majority of his objects bewildered me in wonderful ways. For those not in the know, MacGarry is also one of the Avant Car Guard trio. I’m told that a catalogue for this show, with writings by the artist himself, is also forthcoming.

Wilma Cruise’s new exhibition is, as always, worth checking out. At the David Krut Gallery down the road, she has some beautiful new prints and sculptures that follow on from her continuing collaborations with Jillian Ross. Not open yet, Santu Mofokeng’s photographic African Landscapes at Warren Siebrits looks to also be a beautiful show – we got a little preview because Sid’s godfather, João Orrechia, is a bit of a rock star.

Bryanston, 2008, Nils Fichberg, edition of 1, 1000mm x 1000mm

The new Resolution Gallery of Digital Art holds a group show with works by Nils Eichberg (above) Olivier Schildt and friend of implicit art, Daniel Hirschmann. The former seems to make his beautiful prints from stretching out abstract shapes using corner pixels from images of people paying at tills in various parts of Joburg. The small image here does no justice to his full-size prints, and I want and hope to hear and learn more about him.  Schildt’s pieces seem to be pixilated and generative reproductions of images of town, while Daniel also continues on his generative work that borders on the figural. Worth checking out and chatting with Ricardo (the gallerist) at this new spot.

I also hit Hentie van der Merve’s show at the Goodman.  The somewhat political and humorous prints (in the left corridor when you walk in) were his strongest works (see images via Goodman link), then his similarly styled sculptures; the fabric art, folded papers and camouflage pieces in the right half of the gallery, I could honestly do without. It was great to see him take risks with media foreign to him, but they mostly played it a little too safe, and seemed to be reiterating things often said by other artists. In all, however, the show is very worth a visit. He’s smart and talented, no doubt, and I should probably say again how good the prints (on the left) and sculptures were.

All I got for now. These blog things can be time-consuming and this is supposed to be both a holiday and a lazy Sunday, after all….

Update: I almost forgot! Documentation of my new interventionist piece, commissioned for exhibition in Cape Town, is now live on the main part of this site: Doin’ my part to lighten the load.