Michael Stevenson Gallery moves to Woodstock
by Tavish McIntosh
After five years in Greenpoint, the Michael Stevenson Gallery will be relocating their exhibition space to Woodstock. The new space will double the 300 square metres of actual exhibition space they currently rent. 'The new gallery will be one of the biggest commercial exhibition spaces in Africa, with four-and-a-half metre high ceilings, and accessible parking for visitors,' said Stevenson. 'It's a grown-up version of the current gallery.'
This is not the only growing up the gallery has planned for this year. Having participated in two art fairs last year, the gallery plans to up that number to five this year. In 2007 Michael Stevenson Gallery was the first in Africa to exhibit at the New York Armory and Paris Photo art fairs. In the first quarter of 2008 the gallery will take part in ARCO in Madrid (February 13 - 18), in the first Johannesburg Art Fair (March 13 - 16) and in the Armory Show in New York (March 27 - 30).
Although we could lay this astounding record all at the door of the renowned art boom being experienced throughout the world, there is no denying that the Michael Stevenson Gallery has consistently managed to surpass expectations, drastically upping the game in Cape Town (and dare I say throughout South Africa). With shows that include the work of artists from other African countries and of the diaspora, Michael Stevenson has also facilitated a closer link between South Africa and the rest of the continent. This has had the important effect of exposing the local audience to never-before-seen artists and allowing collaboration to burgeon.
Located in the burgeoning suburb of Woodstock, near to the Goodman Gallery Cape, the new premises promise to cement the pre-eminent position of Michael Stevenson Gallery. Designed by Lunetta Bartz, the new space boasts five galleries, a photographic print room and a courtyard. Michael Stevenson will continue to show young artists on an ad hoc project basis in a side gallery.
The opening will coincide with the fifth birthday celebrations of the gallery which launched in Green Point in 2003. The premises will open on May 15 with a curated show entitled 'Disguise: The art of attracting and deflecting attention'. The implications of outward appearance are amplified in the case of Africa and its diaspora because of the historical significance of skin colour. Perhaps as a result, there is a profound engagement with disguise in the work of many artists with links to the continent.
Curated by Joost Bosland, 'Disguise' will bring together artists for whom attracting or, conversely, deflecting attention forms a central part of their practice. The exhibition explores threads of pageantry, trauma, drag, political pretence, fashion, and stealth in the work of, among others, Candice Breitz, David Goldblatt, Simon Gush, Nicholas Hlobo, Nandipha Mntambo, Zanele Muholi, Youssef Nabil, Athi-Patra Ruga and Claudette Schreuders. It will feature a range of media, including painting, sculpture, photography, video and performance.
To date, the gallery has staged more than 50 exhibitions including curated group shows, solo exhibitions and two and three-person shows. Artists the gallery represents include Conrad Botes, Wim Botha, Meschac Gaba, David Goldblatt, Nicholas Hlobo, Pieter Hugo, Anton Kannemeyer, Churchill Madikida, Mustafa Maluka, Nandipha Mntambo, Samson Mudzunga, Zanele Muholi, Youssef Nabil, Hylton Nel, Odili Donald Odita, Tracy Payne, Deborah Poynton, Berni Searle, Doreen Southwood and Guy Tillim.
The gallery has a curatorial staff of five, including Sophie Perryer, the founding editor of Art South Africa magazine; Andrew Da Conceicao, Federica Angelucci and Joost Bosland.
Opens: May 15
Michael Stevenson Gallery
Buchanan Building, 160 Sir Lowry Road, Woodstock
