David Bowie’s prized personal collection of art featuring works by African and South African artists will go on show next week ahead of being sold by Sotheby’s in London.
The Telegraph reported on Tuesday that 17 local works are included in the collection. The famous musician‚ who died on January 10 at the age of 69‚ purchased art in South Africa during a visit to the country with his supermodel wife Iman in 1995. He bought works by Willie Bester‚ David Koloane and Penelope Siopis.
Later‚ at an exhibition of contemporary African art in London‚ he obtained works by South African artist Norman Catherine. Bowie and Iman were described in an article published in February 1995 by the Sunday Times as “models of unpretensiousness” during a visit to Cape Town.
South Africa was a “wonderful country”‚ he said at the time. Iman‚ who was taking part in a photo-shoot for Vogue magazine‚ took some time out of her schedule to join Bowie on a visit to a shebeen in Gugulethu.
Their stop-over in Cape Town included a brief meeting with former President Nelson Mandela before they headed off to the Johannesburg Biennale‚ a contemporary art exhibition.
“It’ll be exciting … this country is fast becoming the place to be‚” Bowie told the Sunday Times. Bowie’s personal art collection will be auctioned on November 10 and 11.
- TMG Digital
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