Johannesburg Art Gallery marks 100 years of exhibits

World Today

This year marks the 100-year anniversary of the Johannesburg Art Gallery in South Africa. To celebrate this landmark, a number of exhibitions are on display showcasing the gallery’s centenary collection.

CCTV Africa’s Yolisa Njamela reports.

The establishment of this gallery was largely driven by a Florence Phillips who’s sole intention was to bring some culture to the crassly commercial gold-rush town at the time. Its focus was unabashedly Eurocentic, but both that intention and the contents of the gallery have changed over the past century and the focus has evolved to humanity in general.

“It’s about culture, it’s about art, it’s about heritage — All the important things that people should know and care about. If we can’t hold to our cultural heritage then we are nothing,” said Head Curator Antoinette Murdoch.

In celebration of the centenary – six major exhibitions are on display focused on different aspects of the collection. There’s South African Art from 1940 to 1975, public favorites, the print collection, historical and classical pieces, and “Digital Underground” which covers new media.

“What is nice about this collection is that it really shows similarities kind of worldwide,” Curator Tara Weber said. “I hope it creates a sense of connection to not only Johannesburg, but cities everywhere.”