Iziko puts on its finest for summer

Iziko Museums has lined up a sizzling summer programme. Visitors to the different sites will be treated to a host of exhibitions, from Rock Art of the San to works by the acclaimed William Kentridge, and from the Old Dutch Masters to the world’s latest and most spectacular award-winning wildlife photographs.

Iziko South African National Gallery

On view at Iziko South African National Gallery is Voices of the Ancestors, a superb collection of musical instruments from different parts of Africa. In addition, visitors can ‘chill out’ in the Chill Room and experience the audible, not to mention the spiritual, dimension of African sounds.

Scratches on the Face ‘speaks of the multiple histories that have contributed to the fabric of the South African nation, while artist Andrew Verster’s Past/Present, is a multi-media exhibition of paintings, drawings, stage sets, costume designs and wax panels. Verster is possibly one of the country’s most prolific and respected artists.

Described as a juxtaposition ‘of the well-loved paintings and sculptures of modern South African masters with more recent artworks, videos and photographs’, Intimate Distance has as its theme the conflicting emotions of intimacy and distance, independence and belonging.

From a different era, comes The Sir Abe Bailey Bequest, the greatest gift of artworks ever presented to South Africa and featuring paintings by George Stubbs, Sir Joshua Reynolds, Sir Thomas Lawrence, J W M Turner and others. The Sir Abe Bailey Trust is also actively involved in the conservation of Iziko’s artworks.

And importantly, there is the new William Kentridge exhibition which runs until 8 March 2009. A multi-channel projected work that provides a satirical commentary on contemporary society, this thought-provoking offering is entitled I am not me, the horse is not mine.

Iziko Michaelis Collection at the Old Town House

Lovers of classical art with a modern twist, can visit the elegant Old Town House in historical Greenmarket Square to view Dutch Treat. Artist Andrew Putter uses the Iziko Michaelis Collection as a base for his work Secretly I will love you more. Inspired by the classical masters, the artwork is nevertheless a commentary on matters today.

Iziko South African Museum

Meanwhile at the Iziko South African Museum is the Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2008 exhibition which runs till 15 March 2009. Given the record numbers which the exhibition regularly draws, it needs little introduction except to mention that this is the world’s most prestigious exhibition of its kind.

Unconquerable Spirit: George Stow and the Rock art of the San also deals with nature, but from the perspective of the lost world of the San whose wealth of rock paintings, discovered by Stow, records the South African landscape of centuries ago.

Iziko Slave Lodge

Exhibitions at the Iziko Slave Lodge which deal with oppression of the past include 1808 Slave Rebellion and Biko: The Quest for a true humanity, a travelling exhibition developed and presented by the Apartheid Museum to commemorate the 30th anniversary of this iconic struggle hero.

Good Hope Gallery at the Castle

At the Castle of Good Hope, the Cape’s oldest building, Breathing Spaces is an exhibition of photographs by Jenny Gordon and various photographers from community workshops in Durban. It deals with environmental issues and opens at the Castle’s Good Hope Gallery on
11 January 2009.

For further information on Iziko’s full summer programme, which includes Planetarium holiday shows, fun workshops for the family and the Iziko Summer School programme (February 2009), visit www.iziko.org.za or call 021 481 3800.

Images in order of appearance

• Image from the Kentridge exhibition
• 40. Noam Kortler/Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2008©

Additional images for the for Wildlife Photographer of the Year include:

• 18. Antoni Kasprzak/Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2008©
• 30. David Maitland/Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2008©
• 33. Brian Skerry/Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2008©
• 42. Stefano Unterthiner/Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2008©

Please note that the images from the Wildlife Photo exhibition should not be published without first consulting Samantha Pryce of NHU. Her details are:

Samantha.Pryce@etv.co.za

Marketing and PR
NHU AFRICA

T: +27 21 422 0023
F: +27 21 422 0012
www.nhuafrica.com

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