The A-Listers

SOCIALS | Instagram art is cool, but just not selfies, please

24 March 2019 - 00:00 By craig jacobs

These days everyone with a smartphone thinks they're a photographer. So I guess it was only a matter of time before I landed an invite for an art exhibition featuring works solely taken on a phone, albeit ones jazzed up with a picture-altering app.
Called Skin Deep, this exhibition for the Instagram generation encompasses a series of portraits created by enigmatic German artist SaySay.Love, a partially sighted former businessman.
It was held at the AGOG Gallery in Maboneng in Joburg's inner city on Tuesday evening.
Canapés like mini-chicken wraps and prawn cocktails were paired with wine for those who attended this intimate gathering - although the artist himself wasn't one of them.
"He had to return to Germany due to a family emergency," said his manager, Chantal Ford.
In attendance were Mark Hawkins of the Moving into Dance Mophatong dance company and the gallery's dreadlocked co-founder, Nick Mangeya.
The photos included a forlorn-looking mannequin and a self-portrait by SaySay.Love.
"The artist is all about love," said Chantal. "He wants to use his persona as an artist to create awareness."
I can only hope that those who lay claim to being models just because they've mastered the art of posing on their social media feeds don't get any new ideas...

There’s never been a more important time to support independent media.

From World War 1 to present-day cosmopolitan South Africa and beyond, the Sunday Times has been a pillar in covering the stories that matter to you.

For just R80 you can become a premium member (digital access) and support a publication that has played an important political and social role in South Africa for over a century of Sundays. You can cancel anytime.

Already subscribed? Sign in below.



Questions or problems? Email helpdesk@timeslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00.

Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.

Speech Bubbles

Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.