It’s been a cornerstone of Africa’s contemporary art and culture ecosystem for close to two decades, and this year, visitors to Art Joburg will experience a fair that is both familiar and different. The institution plays an integral role in nurturing and sustaining a commercial cultural offering that centers practitioners based on the continent and in the diaspora, so creativity and innovation in the design of the fair is fitting.
Faye Mfikwe, FNB Chief Marketing Officer, says, “We are reimagining FNB Art Joburg, and this years’ fair will see attendees and exhibitors experience the best of contemporary African art and culture. This repositioning of FNB Art Joburg ensures that we make this more than just a fair, but it is about creating a culture of appreciation and ownership that empowers creative talent in South Africa and the African continent. As FNB, we remain focused on supporting the creative economy and ensuring that contemporary African art remains a consistent player in the global art landscape. We are immensely proud of our long-standing sponsorship of FNB Art Joburg, now in its 17th year, and counting.”
Covering bases
Taking on a hybrid approach, the fair is divided into seven specialised sections: gallery HUB, gallery LAB, MAX, GIF, ETC, AUX, and ORG sections. These come together in the form of 41 exhibitors, 14 countries and over 100 artists being represented. In line with the fair’s objective to be a quality focused fair, the gallery HUB pavilion presents internationally renowned galleries that represent institutionally recognised artists. For this 17th edition, the central section will be occupied by BKhz, blank, Eclectica Contemporary, Everard Read, First Floor Gallery Harare, Gallery MOMO, Goodman Gallery, Kalashnikovv, SMAC, Stevenson and Suburbia Contemporary. This is extended into the MAX section where artists from gallery HUB have the room to exhibit large scale works that would challenge the limitations of a conventional booth.
In the ETC section, fair goers have the opportunity to engage with the fair through master prints and leading art publications supplied by Jonathan Ball x Exclusive Books, Atelier le Grand Village, Artist Proof Studios, ArtThrob, Floodhouse, Loft Editions, Clarkes’s Bookshop and iwalewa books. The ORG section is a representation of Johannesburg’s seminal art institutions. Whether museums, universities, or private institutions, the section looks to redefine how the people engage with organisations that were established for the good of the public. In 2024 ORG exhibitors include the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Africa Art and Of Soul & Joy.
A new offering
Then, to honour the medium of photography in Africa and its contribution toward South Africa’s democratic dispensation, FNB Art Joburg is thrilled to launch a new section in the fair. Dubbed GIF, the new section spotlights artists working in the medium of photography. An opportunity to celebrate the 30 years of freedom, the inaugural GIF presentation will feature works by photographic stalwarts, Alf Khumalo, Ernest Cole and Peter Magubane. Aware of the past but looking forward, GIF will also feature contemporary reflections of African liberation through inputs from Stevenson, Everard Read, First Floor Gallery Harare X Modzi Arts, Goodman Gallery, Eclectica Contemporary, Luvuyo Equiano Nyawose and Moyo Oyelolla.
“Parallel to being a blue-chip survey of contemporary African art, FNB Art Joburg prides itself in its yearlong support of various facets in the ecosystem. In maintaining this attentive, nurturing culture we have also been able to fulfill our aim for economic stimulation, inclusivity, and access for all with 16+ days of culture through Open City,” says Mandla Sibeko, Managing Director of FNB Art Joburg. “All together, we hope to continue the work of facilitating a consistent, accessible, considered and reputable offering that will continue to propel us into the future.”
Linking Africa
Curated by Kim Kandan (Gallery Liaison, FNB Art Joburg), the gallery LAB pavilion will feature exhibitors that will see West and East Africa connecting with the Sub-Saharan African region. These exhibitors include Amasaka Gallery, AMG Projects, CHURCH, Guns & Rain, Koko TEN, Laboratório de Crítica e Curadoria, Malambo Art & Culture, Modzi Arts, ODA Art, Ora Loapi, Post Gallery, Suburbia Contemporary, The Project Room, Under the Aegis, Untitled and Wunika Mukan Gallery. Spanning talks, public lectures and audio essays, the AUX section, sponsored by ITOO Artinsure, will explore a plethora of topics that consider practice development, photography in Africa, industry crossing pollination and safeguarding the contemporary art ecosystem. “iTOO Artinsure is delighted to form a part of the FNB Art Joburg sponsorship again this year. We are committed to demystifying the art market through education and making art accessible to all types of collectors, whilst supporting the holistic African art ecosystem with our bespoke insurance solutions,” says iTOO Artinsure Product Head, Gail Bosch.
Following its successful debut, The BMW Art Generation supported by FNB, will return for its second iteration. Adjacent to the discourse, the conference will be surrounded by a curated selection of exhibitions, performance art, live music performances, food, coffee, and wine stalls as well as offerings from leaders in Africa’s design and fashion sectors. Building on its inaugural year in 2023, The BMW Art Generation linked celebrated, established, and young artists, curators, and academics from across the globe allowing us to come together to imagine, celebrate, and protect the future of contemporary African art on African soil. Centred around a conference of discourse and discursive essays within contemporary African art, this year the BMW Art Generation is set to take place at the Nirox Sculpture Park in November 2024.
Open City 2024
For its 2024 iteration, FNB Art Joburg is proud to announce its partnership with Brand South Africa (BrandSA) to activate the city with art, music, performance, food and fashion, every day of the week for 16+ days. Surrounding the fair with art + culture, Open City will take over Johannesburg as the continent’s culture capital from 29 August – 13 September 2024. Taking place beyond the three-day fair, FNB Art Joburg remains committed to the city’s cultural landscape through Open City. A city-wide initiative, Open City fulfills FNB Art Joburg’s mandate for economic stimulation, inclusivity, and better access for all by encouraging Johannesburg’s visitors and residents to immerse themselves in the capital’s rich and layered cultural offerings until it becomes a part of their everyday life. An active means of promoting social cohesion while fostering a sustainable ecosystem, Open City gives independent and emerging cultural practitioners the opportunity to reach a wider audience of culture consumers. On the partnership, Brand South Africa says, “As an official marketing and reputation management agency of South Africa, Brand South Africa has a mandate to build the country’s brand reputation, to improve its global competitiveness. The collaboration with FNB Art Joburg is aimed at promoting the country’s arts and culture strength to position the country’s image and reputation favourably.”
Visit Art Joburg for more info.
Tickets are available here: https://tickets.tixsa.co.za/event/fnb-art-joburg
