UPDATE: Art Gallery undergoes audit

Three months ago, the Johannesburg Art Gallery (Jag) opened its doors after a temporary closure was commissioned in order to address structural frailties that existed within the museum.

The exhibition, titled South Facing, officially lifted the lid on the Jag’s hiatus and ushered in a new era for the musuem on 7 May. The exhibition, put together by Lisbon-based artist and lecturer, Angela Ferreira, interrogated a myriad of inherent structural problems within the Gallery and critically examined colonial-era mining that account for these problems.

The exhibition focused on the contentious barrel-like copper-vaulted roofs – known as the Meyer Pienaar extension – that forms part of the museum’s infrastructure.

In an exclusive with the Rosebank Killarney Gazette, Ali Hlongwane, head of museums and galleries in the City of Johannesburg, said conservation efforts on the building had yet to get off the ground. He said that an audit had, however, begun in order to safeguard important works within the museum.

“The conservation of the building has not yet started. The preparatory work, particularly the heritage audit has commenced under the guidance of the professional team led by experienced heritage architects,” explained Hlongwane, saying that the audit was, however, not yet available for public review. “Until all legislative requirements, in line with the South African Heritage Resources Act of 1999 are addressed, the audit will not be publicly available.

“The work to repair the building and conduct a heritage audit are integrated and feed each other.”

He added, “A new exhibition will be opening soon titled Labour of Love, which presents more than 150 works from the Weltkulturen Museum’s collection – a museum in Frankfurt, Germany – produced in the 1980s by black South African artists, together with 20 new artistic productions by Sam Nhlengethwa, Gabi Ngcobo and four young artists from Johannesburg, specifically created for this exhibition.”

Speaking on measures that have since been implemented in order to avoid similar destruction to museum property, Hlongwane said a long-term plan was in place. “The development of the Conservation and Management Plan is a long-term diagnostic and proactive plan to manage the museum building going into the future,” he said. “This will also include securing the museum landscape given the reality of the Joubert Park environment [where the museum is located].”

Tell us if you’ve visited the Johannesburg Art Gallery since its reopening? What are your thoughts? Post your comments on the RKG Facebook page.