Curatorial Voices: African Landscapes, Past and Present

Live Virtual Auction, 19 February 2024

Curatorial Voices: African Landscapes, Past and Present
About the Session

From Thomas Baines to Jake Aikman, Curatorial Voices: African Landscapes, Past and Present will showcase art by pioneering modernist and trailblazing contemporary artists, spanning 175 years of visual landscape painting on the African continent. This comprehensive auction reveals a nuanced understanding of the diverse cultural, historical, and environmental contexts that have shaped artistic representations of the landscape. Through an examination of various themes, the auction seeks to engage viewers in a dialogue that transcends time and space, connecting past representations to contemporary perspectives. The auction attempts to engage with the diversity of artists that have shaped and continue to shape the depiction of Africa through time.

The auction invites viewers on a captivating journey through the artistic expressions that mirror the multifaceted nature of African terrain. Through meticulous  curation and insightful analysis, the catalogue aspires to be a valuable resource for scholars, art enthusiasts and anyone eager to embark on a thought-provoking exploration of Africa’s rich and complex artistic heritage.

Curatorial Voices
Recognising the dynamic discourse surrounding African Landscape, both past and present, the auction features texts by invited contemporary curators responding to the auction selection and themes. As external voices, they provide critical insights into the complexities of the landscape theme. By amplifying these contemporary perspectives, the exhibition seeks to bridge the gap between traditional representations and the ever-evolving discourse on the role of African art within the global art market.

Azza Satti, Independent Curator, Kenya
Azu Nwagbogu, Founder and Director of the African Artists’ Foundation (AAF), Nigeria
Camilla van Hoogstraten, Head of Sales, Latitudes Online
Ugoma Ebilah, Curator, Gallerist & Founder of Bloom Art
Nkgopoleng Moloi, Independent Curator, South Africa


Sold for

ZAR 35 175
Lot 104
  • Zolile Phetshane; Stories Told in Colour
  • Zolile Phetshane; Stories Told in Colour
  • Zolile Phetshane; Stories Told in Colour


Lot Estimate
ZAR 20 000 - 30 000
Selling Price
Incl. Buyer's Premium & VAT
ZAR 35 175

About this Item

South African 1973-
Stories Told in Colour

signed and dated 2023

mixed media on Fabriano paper
70 by 99,5cm excluding frame; 82 by 112 by 3,5cm including frame

Notes

Zolile Phetshane's work delves into contemporary themes like religion, politics, consumerism, and capitalism. In the present lot Phetshane incorporates abstract colour fields, figurative elements, symbols, and collage techniques to create a deconstructed landscape, focused on the past and present. Colour is extremely specific in the artists work and carries great meaning. "Many of my choices in colour are informed by symbolism in traditional isiZulu garments and beadwork. For example, blue and green represent the sky and cattle respectively."1 Phetshane works with diverse media, including printmaking, pastels, oil pastels on paper, acrylic, and oil on canvas, allowing for a multifaceted approach to his artistic expression.

1.Interview conducted with the artist 26 January, 2024.

This lot has been selected by Curatorial Voice: Camilla van Hoogstraten.

View all Zolile Phetshane lots for sale in this auction