Media Flaws

He stands short in a shiny navy suit with his daughter alongside as they muse unamusedly at the works of art on display at the Goodman Gallery One & Only. The same thought that struck me when I met Pam Golding was the same thought I had upon meeting the suited Sol Kerzner: “Sadly, no amount of money can prevent ageing.” Sol walks with a bit of an old age limp, but still exudes an aura of I’m-filthy-rich (some call it confidence). As I stand, star-struck, joop walks Felicia Mabuza-Suttle in her signature I-don’t-want-to-age air of being. I take one more quaff at my Meerlust Pinot Noir and decide to check out the art. 

It’s the usual Goodman goods on display such as the Essop twins, Subotzky, Miss Veleko, Sue Williamson and Goldblatt (although I didn’t quite see his work – was it hidden in the portfolio instead?). Oh, yes. What makes this exhibition different is that people weren’t actually there to buy the artworks on display but rather the portfolio of seven signed prints which feature all nine artists – the portfolio is called Inside Edition. And in my opinion is a nifty portable way of buying art from a traveller’s perspective. 

Spoke to a few who’s who’s and two artists who actually made the effort to avail themselves that evening. Another great thing about this exhibition was the lack of the usuals I’ve become accustomed to in these Cape Town openings – some of whom are the kind that freely dispense those what-do-these-blacks-want-here looks. So none of that was felt or observed. Thankfully. 

Well, no pretension in the air here, no over-scrutinising and ponderings on the meaningless works of Adam Broomberg & Oliver Chanarin. No really, what were these two thinking with those miniature drawings? No amount of art theory can justify mundane doodles. And then there was Sue Williamson’s work, which did little to me. She talented and great in her own capacity as an artist. But sadly not my cup - I’ve seen her stuff and quite frankly always walk away with a get-over-obscure-Africa-representations-already taste in my mouth - a leave that to Zwelethu Mthethwa kind of feeling. 

I’m pretty sure Goodman Gallery could have selected something far better from Nontsikelelo Veleko than a topless hairy blinged male Durbanite. The other artists on display were alright and much like what we’ve come to expect or know of them. And to be quite honest I could level more critique, but I’ve learnt that art exhibitions aren’t peer review panels and sometimes you just have to accept what’s there, support and buy wherever possible. So I by no means intend to trivialise the exhibition. The context, One & Only, adds a flair of standard to the exhibition and the portfolio which contains signed prints equates to value for money. Another thing, I quite liked is the quick dissipation of the crowd. I couldn’t have stayed longer than an hour there. And besides, the Vista Bar downstairs was calling my name.

On my way down I caught a glimpse of ‘their’ mayor, Dan Plato, sitting in the lobby area engaged in what seemed like boring conversation with what looked like prominent tourists. He smiled and waved and I acknowledged. Perhaps 'their' Premier Helen Zille taught him to be nice to the only blacks at the dinner table – because why I got a greet is beyond me. Argh, maybe I'm being petty and he's just a friendly chap. Anyway, that’s Cape Town for you. 

p.s: The exhibition opened on 5 July, running for a month and open to the public – that’s if you’re not intimidated by the location and harbour no nasty preconceptions of the nouveau rich.