House and Leisure – August 2019

COMPILEDBYGARRETHVANNIEKERK

PHOTOGRAPHS:

ISTOCK,

LUKE

STACKPOOLE/UNSPLASH

SUPPLIED

HL / STYLE PROFILE

IamthefoundingdirectorofFNBArt
Joburg.FNBArtJoburgisamoment
toallowus,after 12 years,toreimagine
ourselvesandourfuturesasSouth
Africanswhenitcomestoourart.The
contemporaryartsceneinAfricaisvibrant
andfinallygettingtheworld’sattention,
howeverthemostimportantmoment will
bewhenAfricansthemselvesunderstand
andcelebratethisartsceneonAfrican
soil.Artfairsareimportantbecause more
than40%ofsalesarenowmadeglobally
atartfairs.InSouthAfrica,theyplay both
theroleofsupportingacreativeeconomy
ofartistsandofeducation.Viewers will
beabletoseethebestofSouthAfrican
andAfricanartfromaroundtheworld.
Visitorsthisyearcanexpectcontent that
isofthehigheststandardandagenerally
openfairforallresidentsofJohannesburg.
Themostexcitingchangesintheart world
haveincludedOkwuiEnwezorcurating
theVeniceBiennale,andthechange to
buildabrand-newfairfromscratch. Art
formepersonallyisourculture.When we
aregone,allthatremainsisourculture.
Artistsaretruthtellers.Ahighlight of
livinginSouthAfricaisthatyoucan go
throughafullrangeofemotionsinone

day, from despair to hope! My hidden gem

in Johannesburg is Service Station Café

in Melville, which has been operating for

20 years. The best view in South Africa is

from Westcliff during jacaranda season.

My perfect weekend would involve running,

walking, reading, spending time with

family and, every once in a while, travelling

out to Franschhoek or Stellenbosch, or

anywhere in nature. I never miss a chance to

eat a bagel when landing in New York City.

A great dinner party is where the guests

come from varied backgrounds, and enjoy

excellent wine and food. A treasured item

at home is my Italian chandelier from the

1800s, and my art and book collections.

The greatest storyteller is a tie between Ben

Okri and Hugh Masekela. Both brilliant.

Travelling abroad is always inspiring and

allows me to dream of what could become

of my country one day. My personal style

is fit for all purposes, from meeting

a president to hanging out with artists.

The code I live by is I invest my time and

money in my passions. I’m reading the

autobiography Cyril Ramaphosa: The Road

to Presidential Power by AnthonyButler

• an inspiring story of Ramaphosa’slife.It
  matters who our president is.O msibeko

AUG 128 SEP

Visionary.

Art entrepreneur.

Bagel lover