The Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees
by Kim Gurney
The Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees (KKNK) is once again gearing up for a week of festivities and the visual art element alone is one good reason to make the trip to Oudtshoorn.
The guest artist this year is Minette Vàri, who exhibits four video works. In River Run, she created an artificial valley. The shape of the route the valley takes is based on the route that links geographical places of personal importance to the artist. The Calling is a two-channel video installation that shows a virtual broken-down metropolis generated fromf personal and found film material of major cities.
Chimera, which was shown last year at the SANG, is a four-channel video installation projected onto diaphonous screens that uses the Voortrekker Monument as a backdrop to a post-apartheid critique. And finally, REM is a single-channel work of the sleeping artist. Her sleep movements are morphed with images of wild animals, shamans and real events.
A group exhibition featuring five curators and their choice of three artists each shows at Principia. Zamaxolo Dunywa, Zanele Muholi and Nicholas Hlobo exhibit 'A lesson from History' under the curatorship of Khwezi Gule. Andrew Lamprecht picks Bridget Baker, James Hoets and Watkin Tudor Jones (aka Waddy Jones) � a trio who represent, according to Lamprecht, a new playing field in the fine arts.
Virginia Mackenny picks Mikhael Subotzky, Greg Streak and Carol-anne Gainer whose critical and outspoken work reflects a common concern. Liese van der Watt chose three white male artists who do not conform to stereotypical expectations: Johann van der Schijff, Pieter Hugo and Ralph Borland. Churchill Madikida picked Gabi Ngcobo, Mustafa Maluka and Berni Searle who each in their own way challenge black stereotyping.
There are also five solo shows at Principia. Sanell Aggenbach exhibits new work in a show called 'Hoogwater' that is more meditative in tone than her previous satirical works, but still aims to deconstruct her past. It includes two paintings, two sculptures and a tapestry.
She says, 'In this body of work I continue to probe issues of cultural heritage and related concepts of nostalgia and identity. During a five-month residency in Paris I shifted my focus from generic social commentary to a more personal introspection regarding my lineage. The main point of departure in 'Hoogwater' is an amalgamation of historic references with private narratives.'
Ryan Arenson, Phillip Rikhotso (the 2004 Brett Kebble joint winner), Hannes Olivier and Nathaniel Stern are the other four solo artists.
Other visual art highlights include sculptor Brendhan Dickerson who exhibits a fire sculpture at 8pm on March 30. He first began this form of artwork in 2001 in Switzerland and has since fine-tuned it, alongside his more regular steel, iron and wood sculptures.
Peter van Heerden will once again present Totanderkantuit, a performance piece with André Laubscher and Chelvin Engelbrecht. This 'live art' investigates white masculinity in a post-apartheid nation and was previously shown at the Grahamstown Festival to much acclaim.
Sasol will show the cream of its corporate collection acquired over the past 10 years, while ABSA, the KKNK main sponsor, will also show off 111 works from its Pierneef collection.
Opens: March 25
Closes: April 2
Tel: 044 203 8600
www.kknk.co.za
