The fine arts in Sandton put Joburg on the map
The FNB Art Joburg event drew artists from all over the world in celebration of the fine arts.
FNB Art Joburg returned to Sandton, bringing together artists, gallerists and art studios from across the continent and diaspora’s leading institutions for artistic expression. The international affair of global standards took place at the Sandton Convention Centre from September 8 – 10, uniting collectors and art enthusiasts from across the globe under Sandton’s bright skies.
The FNB Art Joburg Fair has been a mainstay in Johannesburg for the past 16 years, with FNB as the event’s unwavering partner.
According to FNB Art Joburg managing director Mandla Sibeko, the event plays an instrumental role in developing and sustaining a commercial economy that centres African and diasporic practitioners.
“Johannesburg is the intentional home to FNB Art Joburg,” said Sibeko. “Beyond the name, the fair, like the city, represents the African continent’s love, tenacity and its irreverent energy.”
Patrons and exhibitors at the event echoed the sentiment, lauding the FNB Art Joburg event as a great opportunity for networking, and building audiences for the arts from Africa and the African diaspora.
“A forum like FNB Art Joburg is a way you can have interesting conversations with people, make new links, and, also, help grow a new generation of collectors,” said Sinazo Chiya, who was exhibiting as a member of the Stevenson Gallery in Johannesburg. “In a showcase like this, we get to present the works of many different artists; some of them, like Sosa Joseph behind us – who is an India-based artist whom we’re finally giving the South African audience an opportunity to get to know.”
VoxPops:
How Important are events like the FNB Art Fair for Sandton, and the arts in Africa?
Networking. Networking sucks, but what’s nice about it is that you can talk to people face to face, interact, and get to know people. Spaces like this are really cool for networking.
Coming to a place like this – where I’m goofing around with my friend, checking out art and experiencing it, and building opinions of whether I like it or I don’t, because it’s so subjective, gives me that freedom to actually just be.
For us as a gallery, we’ve always wanted to share the beauty of African art with the world, but also with our people. So it was important for us to take this journey, to come here to Sandton and share our artists with you.
I think it’s important for different creators to come together to share in their art; there’s a lot of artwork that symbolized vulnerability from the artist – especially with regards to our South African heritage.
Spaces like the FNB Art Joburg are uniquely able to help connect the audience and artists in ways that sometimes gallery shows can’t. We’re fortunate enough to have this space in Johannesburg.
Related article:
https://www.citizen.co.za/sandton-chronicle/334016/local-company-celebrates-their-women-in-an-art-style/
https://www.citizen.co.za/sandton-chronicle/333652/wendywood-sewing-sisters-continues-to-empower-the-locals/
