Oliewenhuis in Bloemfontein showcase its permanent collection
Creatively Contrasted: New views on the Permanent Collection is now exhitited at the Oliewenhuis Art Museum.Photo: Supplied
To give a glance at the incredible richness of South African visual art, the Oliewenhuis Art Museum curated an exhibition from its permanent collection.
Ester le Roux, curator at the museum, says the exhibition: Creatively Contrasted: New views on the permanent collection showcase the museum’s commitment to building a representative collection of South African visual art.
“Artworks with contrasting aspects such as the oldest and the newest artwork in the collection, were selected to give a fresh perspective on the collection and pay tribute to the incredible richness of South African visual art.”
The first acquisition that the museum received was Rorte Berner’s Das Kranke Kind (1981) received in 1990. The gallery purchased its first artworks from Gallery 21 in Johannesburg. They were Norman Catherine’s “Ritual” (1985), a pastel on paper, Eduardo Villa’s “Torso” (1968), a bronze statue, and Ezrom Lagae’s “Head of a Wise Man” also in bronze.
She explains the oldest artworks in the collection are three oil-on-canvas paintings by Thomas Baines.
The artwork “Bloemfontein about 1850”, was donated to the museum by the Bloemfontein Municipality in 1990. This painting was originally purchased by the City Council in 1958 from Eric Bonner, a bookseller in London. “Bloemfontein vanaf Naval Hill 1851”, was also donated by the Bloemfontein Municipality. In the background of the painting, a small bag houses a piece of linen on which the words “Bloemfontein the Capital of the Orange River Sovereignty……Ma 23 1851” is featured. “Uitsig oor Bloemfontein 1850”, was donated to the National Museum, Bloemfontein in 1924 by Geo Page. This work was painted on a sturdy striped fabric Ticking, which was traditionally used to cover pillows and mattresses, because its tight weave prevented feathers from sticking through the fabric.
Le Roux says the museums most recent acquisitions and recently created artworks include artworks by living legends Mam Noria Mabasa and Dr Esther Mahlangu. “Born from Fire”, an exceptional sculptural masterpiece by Mam Noria Mabasa, was purchased in 2019 and a painting, “Ndebele Abstract” by Dr Esther Mahlangu was bought in 2021.
Some more interresting art works in the collection, include those of Stefan Ampenberger and his wife Iris Ampenberger. They befriended the well-known artist Father Frans Claerhout after settling in Tweespruit, close to Bloemfontein. Stefan was a painter of landscapes, while Iris painted people and portraits. On display are four of her portraits, one of Father Frans Claerhout and two of her husband and a self-portrait.
“Other contrasting artworks such as the largest and the smallest artwork or out of the ordinary artworks such as artworks created by more than one artist, were also included to encourage visitors to explore and enjoy a bit of South Africa’s rich and varied visual art history and to learn about our heritage.”
The exhibition can be viewed until 3 March. Oliewenhuis Art Museum is located at 16 Harry Smith Street.
The museum is open to the public from Monday to Friday between 08:00 and 17:00, and on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays between 09:00 and 16:00. A ramp at the entrance of the main entrance provides access for wheelchairs, while a lift provides access to the Permanent Collection display areas on the 1st floor.
R10 cash parking fee will be charged, but entrance to the museum is free.
