By Ludwig Spies
The Limpopo Lowveld may not immediately come to mind as a centre of culture creation, but those familiar with the region will tell you that exciting things are happening. Geoffrey Craig-Cooper, art consultant at Imbizo Gallery in the Lowveld town of Hoedspruit, says things have certainly changed. No longer a one-horse town, Hoedspruit is now a fashionable destination featuring wildlife estates, small winter festivals and pleasant local eateries.
Guests enjoyed a diverse selection of abstract, contemporary, and wildlife pieces.
“You know the day I thought ‘things are really starting to look up’? It was when they got rid of the golfball glasses. Do you know what I’m talking about?
“Those short small wine glasses that you see at weddings and corporate functions? “Well, the day I sat down in a restaurant in Hoedspruit, and they gave me a beautiful long-stemmed glass with a large open rim, from which I could actually drink the wine, I knew things had changed.”
Smalltown Art Lovers
“Into Thin Air” – exuberant Art Nouveau bronze by Marke Meyer.
The gallery in Hoedspruit is the second of its kind. The first Imbizo was established in Ballito in 2008 by Isabel Roos, a former plant pathologist and university lecturer. The new gallery is a partnership between her, Cooper-Craig, and resident artist Vanessa Lomas.
Opening an art gallery in a small Limpopo town may seem risky but Geoffrey explains that there has always been a strong need in Hoedspruit for artistic and cultural supply. He cautions that small towns should not be underestimated. Roos echoes this.
Miriam the Sheep, the official mascot of Hermanuspietersfontein Wine Estate.
“Sometimes these older Afrikaans ooms walk into the gallery with their families and you sort of brace yourself for the reaction you’re going to receive after he sees one of Marke Meyer’s nude bronzes. And you know what? The exact opposite happens. They love the work.”
But is this hamlet’s love of art matched by its buying power? The answer is a very definite yes. Thanks to a clever business model that targets the local, tourist and expatriate markets, Imbizo is doing well despite the current economy. Roos’s dream is to create something of an art distribution network that sees work flowing from and to different places in Africa. With this vision in mind, the name Imbizo (Zulu for “gathering” or “coming together”) is more than apt.
To this end, the Imbizo Hoedspruit Arts Fusion Weekend ran from 1 to 4 October this year, with exhibitors at the event showcasing a wide range of genres.
Sculpture, Painting & Photography
Elegantly macabre, “Sangoma” by Tony Riley.
Marke Meyer’s bronze collection included Classical, Art Nouveau and Postmodernist pieces. His “Into Thin Air” gives a definite nod to the Romantics Blake and Keats, and possesses that Art Nouveau allegorical quality.
Meyer explains that his work portrays a physical state that aims to convey a psychological state. The female form fascinates him, and in his work it evolves from subject matter to a medium in and of itself. His photographic figure studies possess the same sculptural quality as his bronzes. His photographic work also includes sensuous narrative studies that remind of Sophiatown, and generally possesses a restrained and subtle eroticism.
Fascinating photography by Chris Allen, “The Miniature Visitors” series.
The instantly likeable Bjørn Borge-Lunde passionately explained how he creates his dreamy works from combined media. His subject matter ranges from Egyptian statues, to wildlife scenes in augmented reality, to Postmodern parodies of Da Vinci and Caravaggio’s work.
Wildlife photographer Jof Mclean, who recently moved to the Lowveld from Johannesburg, agrees that it’s time to move away from the overly touristy work and to produce art for the local market. He is adamant that if you want to be a professional and commercial artist, you should stick with the galleries and avoid producing crafts and curios. His mission is to produce wildlife photography to the standards of fine art.
Cape Wine in the Bushveld
The weekend was lubricated with excellent wines from the Hermanuspietersfontein and La Couronne wine estates. The “No. 7” tropical Sauvignon Blanc from Hermanuspietersfontein has a reputation for winning over hardy Chardonnay drinkers. And it does so spectacularly.
A brand shift is also in the works; this summer, “No. 7” will be renamed “Die Kaalvoetmeisie” (The Barefoot Girl). Fifteen rands from all sales will be donated to the Hermanus Cancer Association “because she’s the barefoot girl and she cares”. Hermanuspietersfontein honours authentic Afrikaans stories through its wines’ names and the farm mascot, Miriam the Sheep.
“Lady at her Toilette” & “The Boudoir”, excerpted from Marke Meyer’s “Old Places, Changing Faces” series.
Eldorette Carinus from La Couronne delighted with the Wooded Chardonnay from the estate’s Admiral Choice Range. She explained that La Couronne is the only estate in Franschhoek that uses its own grapes to create a unique unblended Malbec. She recommends her Malbec 2014 for sultry evenings this summer. With the aromas of ripe red fruits, seductive mango, and hints of dark chocolate, it is a wine to fall in love to. When you plan your next local getaway, consider making it a road trip to happening Hoedspruit. The weather is fine and the people are friendly; the restaurants aren’t shy with their portions; and the best of the Cape Winelands is readily available. And the art is really, really good…
