Winter sculpture fair: Coming to a park near you

06 May 2014 - 02:34 By Yolisa Mkele
subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now
MORPHED: Sculptor Angus Taylor poses with his 'Morphic Resonance' at the Nirox Sculpture Park
MORPHED: Sculptor Angus Taylor poses with his 'Morphic Resonance' at the Nirox Sculpture Park
Image: DANIEL BORN

Situated on 6ha of manicured green tranquillity, Nirox Sculpture Park is interspersed with sculptures by some of the best artists in the country.

This weekend a specially curated show, the Winter Sculpture Fair, will take place.

"There is nothing like this that happens in South Africa. As a sculpture park, Nirox is purpose- built to showcase art," said Mary Jane Darroll, the fair's curator.

Giving a bunch of sculptors a gallery the size of a small farm has been an interesting challenge for artists and curators alike.

"This thing weighs about five tons so we had to assemble it on site. Once it's up, there is no moving it. When we were installing it we had to make sure everything was right," Angus Taylor said about his 5m-high sculpture, Morphic Resonance.

Taylor's sculpture is arguably the fair's crown jewel. It is made from granite from Belfast, dust from a platinum mine, straw and "rammed" earth.

"I decided to go with these materials because I am an African. With materials like bronze, sculptures can often look too monumental and I didn't want that," said Taylor.

He said he also wanted to use the material as a means of exploring fragility and strength.

"The thing about rammed earth is that it looks fragile, but you can make it incredibly strong or relatively weak. Even then it will probably last longer than you and I will," he said.

Taylor's piece is one of 100 works on display in a showcase that is about tearing art away from its elitist image.

"A lot of people see art as this elitist thing, but with the sculpture fair what we want to show is that whether you are an art aficionado or a child with absolutely no understanding or education, you can come and enjoy the art," said Darroll.

Other artists included at the fair are Doreen Southwood, Berco Wilsenach, Richard Forbes, Johannes Maswanganyi and Joachim Schonfeldt.

If sculpture is not your thing, the fair will also offer live music, and food and wine from Franschhoek.

  • The Winter Sculpture Fair will take place on May 10 and May 11 at the Nirox Sculpture Park in the Cradle of Humankind, Gauteng. Tickets are available for R100. Children under 12 get in free. Buy tickets at webtickets.co.za
subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now