Still Lifes
Leading Strauss & Co's May auction is an incredible work by Irma Stern, Still Life with Dahlias and Pumpkin, its thick impasto oils showing Stern's deft use of colour, and alongside the painting Figures on a Beach, this is a compelling case for why Stern should sit next to art history's greats. Still Life with Dahlias and Pumpkins sets the tone for the 22 still lifes at Strauss & Co's May auction. The works are curated together and include some of William Kentridge's large-scale flower works, as well as vivid oils from Maggie Laubser.
The 22 still lifes at Strauss & Co show that there is nothing stale or stagnant about this genre and that it is a place of experimentation and expression for many. A trio of works stood out to us, though. Included are two still lifes by Alexis Preller and one by Erik Laubscher. Preller's work partly inspired the latter, but what struck us was how, in putting these three together, Strauss & Co can weave the stories and backgrounds of the artists into their works. Preller's take on the martyrdom of Saint Sebastian, Sebastian I, is a hauntingly strange work that merges modernism and East African mysticism. Seeing Laubscher's painting next to this highlighted how it reflected Preller's choice of colours.
Black Modernists
One of the highlights of Strauss & Co's auctions is how they bring forth forgotten or rare works by Black South African artists who were at the forefront of South Africa's Modernist movement. Notably in this auction are paintings by Gerard Sekoto, Dumile Feni and Peter Clarke. Feni's dark and erotic work Blue Suede Shoe merges mechanical and distorted figures into one another. One of the interpretations of Feni's reassembly of form in his works is that he presents the viewer with a new conception of identity: "one won from exile, in which boundaries are blurred and positions are unstable." Strauss & Co's Alastair Meredith points to how the obscurity behind this work shows the void of art historians looking at the work of South Africa's Black Modernists. The paintings Up Prinsloo Street and The Acrobat's Family by Sekoto and Clarke, respectively, join Feni's as some of the museum-grade pieces at Strauss & Co's auction. Both are underpinned by the context of segregation they were painted in, be it the tranquillity of Sekoto's street scene or the satirical nature of Clarke's work. Ideally, all three would end up in South African museums for public viewing, but there is a chance they will head overseas or disappear into a private collection. So be sure to see them at the pre-viewing, as it might be the only chance to engage with these essential works.
Early 20th-century Work
Providing an alternative view of South Africa's history are works from the early 20th century which give insight into the people and social dynamics of the time. Of note are Anton van Wouw's sculpture Shangaan and Dutch-born Frans Oeder's Portrait of the Artist's Gardener. Van Wouw's sculpture sheds light on the migrant labourers in the mines, and his arresting sculpture captures the young Shangaan man's defiance and humanity. Oeder's work is a rare record of the Black farmhands and workers of the time, and the intense portrait is reminiscent of works from the Dutch Golden Age. These are just a few of the 20th-century works you can expect to see with other notable mentions, including landscapes by J.H. Pierneef and Pieter Wenning.
Sculpture and Tapestry
Sculpture can get overlooked when next to grand and colour-filled oils, but plenty will capture your eye in Strauss & Co's viewing room. Aside from his Shangaan work, there are several masterful bronze works by van Wouw. Edoardo Villa's abstracted forms also hold a prominent place in this auction and draw interesting parallels with Feni's figure distortions, as well as how the artists balance ambiguous shapes with precise forms. Take note of Norman Catherine's fibreglass figure, Blue Suit, leering in front of the spiralling Tapestry with Pink Flowers, which needs to be seen in person to appreciate its vast scale and intricate detail.
Events and Walkabouts
To really get a sense of the stories behind the art at Strauss & Co's May auction you need to join one of their expert-led walkabouts. Whether it's getting insights into the art market, an understanding of the broad strokes of South Africa's art history, or anecdotes about the works and artists, you'll leave with a berth of engagingly delivered information. On Sat, May 13, you can join a walkabout at 10:00 and on Sun, May 14, at 10:00 and 12:00, Strauss & Co will host a children's art workshop focusing on Mother's Day, with a guided walk for the adults. Then, discuss and celebrate the work of South Africa's women artists with Strauss & Co's Women's Art High Tea in Houghton on Wed, May 10, at 10:00. RSVP for this event here.
Whether causally popping into the viewing room or joining Strauss & Co for their organised walkabouts, visiting their pre-auction viewing should be at the top of any art-lover's to-do list. It's also an excellent way for those new to South Africa's art scene to familiarise themselves with some of the country's most celebrated artists.
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