Investec Cape Town Art Fair is about art and more

By Edward Tsumele, CITYLIFE/ARTS Editor

Art lovers have started descending Cape Town Art Fair, some even days before the event kicks off on February 16, running till Sunday, February 18, 2024.

And with a big event like this, not only  are those connected to the arts are excited, such as the participating art galleries, collectors and the artists whose works are at the fair, but businesses too in Cape Town are poised to coin it. For example those who provide accommodation and other tourist products and services, such as B&Bs, hotels and e-hailing services stand to gain financially, as demand is bound to spike even days before the fair starts.

The fair is also a platform for those in the art eco-system to network and break bread, especially with private diners and special events taking place on the sidelines of the art fair.

However the core essence of the fair remains the business of the art as participating galleries look forward to welcoming art collectors in their boots, where they will be showcasing the best of their artists.

“We are thrilled to share our preview for the 2024 edition of Investec Cape Town Art Fair. This year we are super proud to present a brand new body of work from Helen Teede in the Solo section of the fair and in the Main section stellar new works from Wycliffe Mundopa, Troy Makaza, Gresham Tapiwa Nyaude, Amanda Mushate, Zanele Mutema, Pebofatso Mokoena and Grace Nyahangare,” says director of First Floor Gallery which is based in Harare, Valerie Kabov.

 “Strauss & Co, Africa’s leading art auction house, invites collectors to explore South Africa and beyond through Curatorial Voices: African Landscapes, Past and Present, our landscape-themed auction of collectable art from across the African continent. Collectors can preview works in this ambitious auction from Wednesday, 14 February 2024 at Strauss & Co’s newly refurbished Cape Town gallery.

The preview exhibition gathers work that spans 175 years of art history by artists from Benin, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ghana, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Tunisia and Zimbabwe. Artists represented in Curatorial Voices: African Landscapes, Past and Present include the celebrated abstract painter Dr Esther Mahlangu, whose much-anticipated retrospective, Then I Knew I was Good at Painting, opens to the public at Iziko South African National Gallery, Cape Town, on 18 February 2024,” says the leading art auction house.

One of the international art galleries art Harare has taken exclusively photography top the art fair, one of the rare mediums to feature at an international art fair. This perhaps is a response to a shift in the market, with more and more collectors increasingly getting interested in collecting photography, especially photography created on the African continent.

Art Hare will showcase photographic work at the 2024 Investec Cape Town Art Fair, under the theme Mushika-shikawith works by Wonai Haruperi, Nothando Chiwanga, Lennox Makurumidze, Tinotenda Chamuka, Martina Gruber and Kudakwashe Chakwanda. The exposition will invite the audience to explore the city of Harare through the lens of photography through a ‘mushikashika’ taxi. Mushikashika is the name given to an illegal taxi vehicle that are prevalent in Harare. The photographs are displayed on vehicle windows, windshields, mirrors and side mirrors that frame the city scenes,” art Hare’s curatorial stamen states.

All pictures by Thati Rwasoka

Joburg based independent gallery Guns &Rain, that represents contemporary artists from the southern African region is taking four artists the Investec Cape Town Art fair this year.

“The Investec Cape Town Art Fair returns this week, where we are proud to present new work by four excellent artists, all of whom are being formally presented at the fair for the first time, Adrian, solo booth Fortuin (View the Catalogue) MAIN | Booth C4, Hedwig Barry: (View the Catalogue), Princia Matungulu: (View the Catalogue) and Zenaéca Singh: (View the Catalogue).

We look forward to seeing at least some of you in Cape Town, and if you have any queries, we would be delighted to assist,” says gallery director Julie Taylor.