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.
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About this Item
signed and dated 21; inscribed with the artist's name, date, title and medium on the reverse
Notes
The present lot is characterised by Hussein Salim’s vibrant abstraction—weaving lively colours and intricate patterns to explore themes of diaspora and multiculturalism. Rooted in his own journey, Salim views his artistic practice as deeply connected to his experiences of navigating the unknown.
"My art comes as abstraction because, for me, it is an act of life, tied to my personal narrative—one of a person who has lived through the unknown. The entire matter, this act of life, is like an open horizon to a captivating adventure.” - Hussein Salim
Provenance
Melrose Art Gallery, Johannesburg, 2021.
Private Collection.
Exhibited
The Melrose Gallery, Johannesburg, The Garden of Carnal Delights, 5 May to 3 July 2022.