Perspectives on Africa
Live Virtual Auction, 17 February 2025
Perspectives on Africa
About the SessionStrauss & Co is pleased to present Perspectives on Africa, a sale that explores the complexity, beauty, and fluidity of perspectives through African art and works by artists with strong ties to the continent. The sale coalesces the rich and varied connections between Africa and its artistic expressions, presenting works that span figuration, landscape, and abstraction, inviting collectors to engage with powerful narratives emerging from Africa's evolving perspectives. The works reflect layered meanings, both as a method of representing depth and dimension as a way of framing our understanding of the world. Work by Contemporary artists reflects on the historical foundations of Modernist artists, exploring themes such as identity, belonging, urbanisation, and re-encounters with tradition, while the sale transitions to Modernist interpretations of Africa, exploring the complexity of colonial encounters, post-independence aspirations, and indigenous practices. Building on Strauss & Co’s commitment to developing a strong local photography market, the sale includes an artist focus on the work of social documentarian Paul Alberts, whose images captured poignant narratives of everyday life, particularly in Cape Town. These works sit alongside David Goldblatt and Zanele Muholi, whose visceral images explore themes of identity, social justice and the multifaceted realities of African life.
About this Item
Provenance
Acquired from the artist by the current owner.
Notes
“This artwork was created a month before I conceptualised the idea of incorporating Shweshwe fabric into my work. It was also made in the same year that I had my first solo exhibition in the Tomorrows/Today booth for the Cape Town Investec Art Fair in February 2020. In this piece, I’ve used remnants from that solo show to create a sculptural object that combines material ideas such as cardboard and punched canvas. Three months later, in March 2021, I held my first solo exhibition at SMAC, featuring this piece as part of a series of small experimental works that combine cardboard, canvas, and punched magazine paper—all of which sold.
The artwork resembles a spear or dagger, and I always title my works in Setswana. Lerumo means "spear" in Setswana—a weapon or form of armor. I would even go as far as to say that this piece represents my spiritual armor.”—Bonolo Kavula, 2025.
Exhibited
SMAC, Cape Town, Sewedi Sewedi, 6 March to 1 May 2021.