Disturbance at the JAG
The JAG, also known as The Johannesburg Art Gallery, will be hosting a fascinating exhibition of contemporary art from Denmark, Norway, Finland and South Africa, titled “ disturbance”. The show will examine the relationship Nordic and South African artists have to notions of identity and place. Having visited Sweden (we LOVED Stockholm and can’t wait to go back!) we can confirm that from an outsider’s point of view, it appears to have a very different culture from South Africa … on the surface… Editorista is spending some time in Europe and she too can confirm how often she feels herself having ‘flashbacks’ to SA… This kind of project is the exact kind of probing that can help us understand what lies beneath the surface within our cultures and how we may surprise ourselves in our likeness… All will be revealed:
Drawing on a strong romantic landscape tradition and constructed ideas of what constitutes Scandinavian nationalism; perceptions about self and society are explored through photography, video, sound and performance. The exhibition explores the paradoxes of what Nordic society entails from personal displacement to commentary on other communities or nationalities and as such the depictions in its contemporary art.
Equally, what do the disparate relations between Scandinavia and South Africa have in common?
The thematic of the show will focus on “disturbance” as a term understood to explore both the literal and implicit rupture existing in society.
The exhibition includes artists from Norway – Bodil Furu, Torbjorn Rodland, Maia Urstad and the artistic duo Goksoyr & Maartens. In addition an artist from Denmark – Astrid K. Jensen, and a selection from Finland including Eija Liisa Ahtila, Marja Helander, Veli Grano and Mika Ronkainen’s documentary The Screaming Men. South African artists participating in the exhibition are: Siemon Allan, Anthea Moys, James Web, Nandipha Mnthambo, Athi Ptra Ruga, Nicholas Hlobo and Alastair Mclahlan
The Exhibition will officially open on Sunday 26 October at 6.30pm, Johannesburg Art Gallery and will run until 1 March 2009. The exhibition is curated by Clive Kellner and Maria Fidel Regueros.
JOHANNESBURG ART GALLERY is open from Tuesdays to Sundays from 10:00am till 5:00pm, its situated at King George Street, (between Wolmarans and Noord Streets), Joubert Park, tel: + 27 11 725 3130
