Art Blog

South Africa's most visited art fair aims to create an eclectic and unique 2020 online edition

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many art fairs to move their offerings online and the RMB Turbine Art Fair (RMB TAF) has followed the trend by offering an exciting mix of individual gallery viewing rooms, curated special projects, an extensive free talks and walkabouts programme and an unique virtual reality experience from 28 August - 2 September 2020.

RMB TAF continues its aim to embrace emerging and young artists, galleries and collectors offering works up to R50 000. The online edition features over 50 galleries and the 6th edition of the RMB Talent Unlocked . This year's programme consists of professional practice workshops and a mentorship programme run by independent art advisor and curator Londi Modiko and will feature work by Lebohang Mabusela, Zanele Mashini, Katlego Modiri , Manyatsa Monyamane, Octavia Roodt, Vanessa Tembane, Noah Onah and Rick Baloyi will be showcased.

"Each year we are delighted to bring the art-loving public a host of specially curated projects from across South Africa under various banners and themes. These special projects allow guest curators to source unique and exciting work," says Glynis Hyslop, Founder RMB Turbine Art Fair.

Other projects includes "Looking Forward" showcasing digital and new media art and "Looking Back" explores the uncanny relationship between the similar, yet very separate, lives of two of South Africa's foremost artists, Gladys Mgudlandlu and Maggie Laubser in a special Strauss & Co exhibition titled Parallel Visions .

The online viewing rooms for all special projects and galleries will officially open to the public on the 28 August from 09:00. The extensive free talks and walkabout programme sponsored by RMB Private Bank will be available for the public online by registration and will run for the duration of the fair.

For the full line-up, visit www.turbineartfair.co.za .

Other Projects

First look will highlight selected works from postgraduate university students in Fine and Visual Art across South Africa.

New World Order , curated by Johan Thom will showcase a variety of aesthetic strategies implicit in the artistic practice of a new generation of educator-artists.

Tactile Visions-Woven , curated by Prof Sharlene Khan, presents a curated selection of tactile-based works in an expanded conversation with the notion of 'materiality' and 'tactility'.

Stilled Life - a community photographic platform was launched to give South Africans a place to share their Covid-19 stories. The top 100 images will be selected by a panel of judges that includes Savannah Feeke, Musa Nxumalo and Greg Marinovich and will be auctioned by Strauss & Co in their September online auction with all proceeds to going to the BASA Artists Relief Fund.