by Ringo Dutch
Undoubtedly the most unusual media presentation was that given by the Cape Africa Platform in the Goodman Gallery Space on Friday. Mirjam Asmal-Dik, director of Cape, was hosted by Goodman in order to present the upcoming Cape 09 Biennale which will launch in May this year.
Swimming against the tide of the established Biennale model which Asmal pointed out “does not work for us here in Africa”, this exposition is the culmination of a training program where five emerging curators where given a “crash course” in contemporary curation including an internship with one local, one Africa and overseas gallery or event. Promising to deliver an unusual experience by utilizing non-traditional spaces such as the Cape Town station , Langa high school and moving taxis, these young curators intend to deliver to art to new audiences in a fresh and innovative way.
Ross Douglas, director of ArtLogic , has recently criticized the Cape project and declared the Joburg Art Fair the only large scale art event in South Africa, curiously ignoring the Cape Biennale and the Spier Contemporary.
In a question posed to Asmal she expressed frustration at her perception that Douglas was trying to create a tension between Cape and the Art Fair rather than playing on their complimentary strengths which should work together to build a stronger more unified art structure in South Africa.