Artist/curator, Wayne Barker
with his container laager at the
1st Johannesburg Biennale

Biennale Smokkelaars

One of the highlights of the first Johannesburg Biennale in 1995 was the exhibition staged in a circle of shipping containers, largely organised by Wayne Barker, and entitled 'Laager'. Participants were some of the younger artists left off the official Biennale list, including Barker himself, Brett Murray, Lisa Brice, Barend de Wet and Werner Vermeulen. This year, it's happening again - the last four artists mentioned plus Ian Waldeck, Kevin Brand and Peet Pienaar finding themselves once more out in the cold, have located a venue close to the heart of Biennale-land, this time in Wolhuter Street, opposite the Market theatre parking lot, and will launch their art attack from there. The difference this time is that erstwhile organiser Barker is now on the official Biennale list. Languishing in France, Barker received the news by phone, and immediately asked to be included in 'Smokkel', (Smuggle) only to be told 'No way, Wayne. You're on the other show.' After further consideration the group has decided on a proposition: Barker can be on 'Smokkel' if they can all hijack his Biennale space on the Okwui Enwezor/Octavio Zaya-curated flagship show 'Alternating Currents' to be sited in the Electric Workshop.Watch this space.

Mid-month update
Barker is apparently highly annoyed that the story of his negotiations with the Smokkelaars is on the net, and is continuing to refuse infiltration of his space on the 'Alternating Currents' show.

The Smokkelaars idea was to turn Barker's space in the Electric Workshop into a gallery , with Robert Weinek - he of Bob's Bar and the Hanel Gallery - in attendance as gallery director, all dressed up in white suit and cellphone ready to show visitors the art portfolios of the Smokkelaars. Great concept, but one can hardly blame Barker for not wanting to be hi-jacked out of his hard-won space.

In a startling move last week, director and partner of Cape Town's Hanel Gallery, Robert Weinek, resigned his position at the gallery, citing irreconcilable management differences with co-partner Ellen Hanel. The Hanel was the first overseas gallery to open a branch in this country, opening its doors in a narrow but functional space in Shortmarket Street last November. Since then, exhibitors have included Steven Cohen, Phillip Hunt, Andrew Putter and Lisa Brice. The gallery has considerably brightened the art life of the city, and since Weinek has announced that he may well move into the gallery business with a new partner, it is to be hoped that Cape Town will get yet another interesting new space. Of course, the crunch will come when artists have to decide in which space to show - the Hanel carries the lure of possible German exposure, while ex-artist Weinek is close friends with many of the country's top artists.