Pan African art fair RMB Latitudes finds new magnificent and accessible home in the heart of Johannesburg

By Edward Tsumele, CITYLIFE/ARTS Editor

It is massive and magnificent. This property should rate as one of the most beautiful gems right in the heart of Johannesburg. CITYLIFE/ARTs with other media houses recently had the privilege to be taken around Shepstone Gardens, a three acre property situated just off Louis Botha Avenue, east of Johannesburg. Some of us who had not known the existence of this property were left in awe, and those who have been there before were left imagining how this new home of Pan African art fair, RMB Latitudes will blend the art experience with its exquisite atmosphere.

The place during the art fair will give visitors a sense of being in the bush, complete with lush greens and massive rock outcrops that form a big part of this property situated on a hill top, and yet it is right here in heart of Johannesburg. Latitudes when it was first launched in 2019, used the Nelson Mandela Square as its debut home.  But the organisers of RMB Latitudes this have decided to give visitors a different experience of enjoying an art fair.

Therefore this new home of RMB Latitudes will not only be accessible to art lovers, collectors and art enthusiasts, but promises to give the visitors during the art fair, scheduled for  at 26 to May 28, 2023 an unforgettable experience. It will be a big relief to those who for the longest of time would have loved to experience an art fair differently away from the often restrictive atmosphere of the malls of Northern Johannesburg.  At its new home visitors will enjoy the experience of attending an art fair outdoors,  creating a potentially exciting experience like never before in South Africa since the advent of art fairs.

This is as this year the Latitudes team is bringing together artists and exhibitors from the African continent to showcase their works and talent, and in many ways demonstrating that contemporary art from Africa has evolved in a big way. It is just as good as any other good art from the globe, and now wonder inn recent years collectors have consistently cast their eyes on art works created by African artists to grow their collections.

At this year’s art fair the central curatorial theme for the 2023 edition is co-emergence. “In the context of African art, co-emergence refers to the complexities embedded in the interaction of various cultural and aesthetic influences on the creation and interpretation of African art,” says Latitudes Special Projects Curator, Nkhensani Mkhari. In “Looking both ways” practitioners working both on the continent and beyond explore how these diverse aesthetics and cultural influences echo each other in the diaspora and African contemporary art.”

Says Linda Kachingwe-Sisya, Head of Marketing for RMB and FNB in Broader Africa: “RMB has partnered with Latitudes because we share a belief in Africa’s vibrant and resourceful economy.

The universal language of art enables powerfully creative communication across Africa, with the ability to express the spirit of the time and bring societies together. We’re excited to be supporting the physical RMB Latitudes Art Fair experience. Further, with Latitudes, we’ll be bringing exclusive art events to our clients in our RMB in-present countries on the continent, throughout the year.”

In May, visitors will be able to enjoy a curated contemporary art experience, while strolling through an iconic Johannesburg garden and attending art talks and walkabouts. What’s more, a partnership with Franschhoek Wine Valley, will see vignerons from the winelands fly to RMB Latitudes to share their top wines and bubblies with visitors. 

“We are looking forward to welcoming visitors and the arts industry to a uniquely African art experience that is inclusive, fair, highly curated and embraces our natural environment,” says Lucy MacGarry, Latitudes Co-founder. “Having always admired RMB’s committed support of the arts and refreshing approach to their many arts initiatives, we are incredibly proud to come together to realise our shared vision.” 

“New platforms such as RMB Latitudes are vitally important,” says Azu Nwagbogu, Founder and Director of African Artists’ Foundation (AAF), and curatorial advisor on RMB Latitudes 2023 International Galleries Programme. “They offer innovative models for cultural and artistic engagement that have evolved from the decay of our previous ways of living, and are developing new models for today.”

RMB Latitudes is a destination event. As there is limited parking, guests are encouraged to travel via Uber or to make use of the Fair’s Park and Ride at the Old Edwardian Society, Houghton, where the Fair’s exclusive vehicle partner, Lexus, will have a shuttle service on offer. 

Celebrate in our shared creative spirit, ignite new relationships, and connect with artists and galleries in an inspiring setting.

For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit: latitudesartfair.com