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Gladys Mgudlandlu and Maggie Laubser lead Strauss & Co 2019 diverse presentation at the 2020 RMB Turbine Art Fair

24 Aug 2020

Time-honoured customs may have been upended by a global pandemic, but Strauss & Co is once again participating in the annual RMB Turbine Art Fair with a vigorous programme of contributions to this year’s virtual edition. These contributions include a talk by Strauss & Co chairperson Frank Kilbourn and two-person exhibition devoted to Gladys Mgudlandlu and Maggie Laubser.

As in previous years, Strauss & Co will utilise this spirited art fair to showcase highlights from its forthcoming online-only auction of modern, post-war and contemporary art, decorative arts, jewellery and fine wine (27 August – 7 September). This presentation will form part of RMB Turbine Art Fair’s dedicated virtual viewing rooms.

“The Turbine Art Fair is a valuable platform for Strauss & Co to connect with new collectors,” says Susie Goodman, an executive director at Strauss & Co. “The diversity of the participating galleries and added focus on special projects has made the fair a popular event with especially Johannesburg collectors. With the current shift to a virtual format I am certain that Turbine Art Fair will grow and attract an even bigger audience of art buyers interested in learning about our diverse offering celebrating the rich history of art produced in this country.”

Strauss & Co’s participation in the RMB Turbine Art Fair commences with a virtual presentation by company chairperson Frank Kilbourn at the VIP Preview on Thursday, 27 August. Kilbourn, a noted art collector and philanthropist, will share personal insights from his three decades of art collecting.

Following on successful exhibitions devoted to Irma Stern and J.H. Pierneef at the fair, Strauss & Co’s senior art specialist Wilhelm van Rensburg has organised an insightful two-person exhibition titled Visionary Artists, Parallel Lives. The exhibition surveys the work of Gladys Mgudlandlu and Maggie Laubser, two very similar yet also distinct painters.

Both Mgudlandlu and Laubser grew up in rural settings, in the Eastern and Western Cape respectively, and both experienced a very religious upbringing. Both artists’ families and wider communities derided their artistic inclinations and the early works and exhibitions of both were heavily criticised. Mgudlandlu’s works were considered too innocent, naïve, and even escapist, while Laubser’s paintings were deemed too modern, initially, and later, not modern enough.

“The phenomenal legacy of these two artists is indisputable,” says Wilhelm van Rensburg, who has curated a number of well-received exhibitions outside his role at Strauss & Co. “Laubser’s work has been the subject of many academic studies and boasts the only comprehensive catalogue raisonné published to date on the work of a South African artist. Mgudlandlu’s work is especially important as she was the pioneer black woman artist in the mainstream art world, and she serves as continuous creative inspiration for a number of contemporary practitioners, including artist Kemang Wa Lehulere, architect Ilze Wolff and curator Nontobeko Ntombela.”

Strauss & Co has produced a catalogue to support the exhibition Visionary Artists, Parallel Lives. It is available in print and digital editions. As part of Strauss & Co’s commitment to art education, Wilhelm van Rensburg will lead a workshop with art educators aimed at sharing knowledge and insight around this exhibition. Additionally, van Rensburg will also present a guided walkthrough of the RMB Turbine Art Fair on Monday 31 August at 4pm, discussing highlights and trends.

Registration is obligatory to attend the RMB Turbine Art Fair as well as view its virtual viewing rooms, including the Strauss & Co presentations. Register here.

Bookings are essential to attend the fair’s diverse programme of virtual events, including the presentations by Strauss & Co staff. Register here.