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Art and Ambiguity
Perspectives on the
Brenthurst Collection of Southern African Art
Perspectives on the
Brenthurst Collection of Southern African Art
Harry Oppenheimer, of
Anglo American and
De
Beers, purchased a collection of early collected Southern
African tribal objects ex Jonathan Lowen, through a London intermediary. Harry Oppenheimer leant the collection to the Johannesburg Art
Gallery, where it became known as the Brenthurst Collection. It
was name that after the
Brenthurst
Library, which houses the Africana collection of the
Oppenheimer family in Johannesburg.
Under the care of the Johannesburg Art Gallery, the material sat around
unseen for a number of years. The JAG and in particular it's
director, were informed by the Oppenheimer's, that the gallery would
either have to exhibit the material and produce a catalogue, or face
its removal.
Under pressure, a catalogue was born, academics were crowned and the
'winds of change' hit the local art world. Art and Ambiguity started a
rush for things Southern African, at
whopping R50.00 a copy. ($6.25 or €4.40)
The exhibition brought indigenous southern African art to the
forefront of the South African art world, at a time the country was
passing through critical moments of change. It awoke an interest from
the South
African public art collections, whose directors suddenly felt
embarrassed, or even threatened. Around the country, provincial and city
budgets were created for the purpose of acquiring objects. As the market
heated, dealers and collectors of African art in both the US and Europe
took notice of what was happening at auction. Their interest added to
the ongoing rush. In the course of a very few years, prices for
important works skyrocketed. Southern African tribal art no longer
was left un-illustrated at the end of catalogue sales. The quest for
things southern sparked life into the world of tribal art market
overall, which continued unabated until George Bush & Co. pushed our
world into a 21st century depression.
On the up side - THREE CHEERS FOR HARRY
and the fabulous collection!
Preface by Christopher
Till. Introduction by Es'kia Mphahlele.
The book includes the following essays: "Ambiguity, Style and Meaning" by
Patricia Davison, "Looking from the Outside: the historical context of
the Brenthurst Collection of Southern African Art" by Johan van Schalkwyk, "Tradition, Authenticity and Tourist Scuplture in 19th and
20th Century South Africa" by Anitra Nettleton, "Headrests: Tsonga types
and variations" by Rayda Becker, 'Zulu' Headrests and Figurative
Carvings: the Brenthurst Collection and the art of South-east Africa" by
Sandra Klopper, "Southern African Beadwork: issues of classification and
collecting" by Diane Levy and "Public Pleasures: smoking and
snuff-taking in Southern Africa" by Ann Wanless.
Price: $850.00 plus
postage.
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