Taken Out of Con[Text]

A text experiment by Koleka Putuma

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As an artist, my engagement with soil has been both sporadic and profound, each interaction a meditation on the earth's raw, tactile essence. Over the years, I've witnessed a growing embrace of soil as a medium by a diverse cadre of artists near and far.

Our esteemed selection committee is hard at work deciding on a winner from the 2024 Top 12 Finalists, who we are beyond excited to present to you!

If you peruse the 16 art exhibitions and live programming of the HEAT Festival, you aren't likely to see the names of too many famous artists. The HEAT Winter Arts Festival was not originally tailored for young or emerging artists. This focus occurred organically - as a nascent festival, it made sense to unearth new talent, and a fresh point of view.

Art and artists make for good stories. Over the years, a rich relationship between South African art and fiction has emerged, with art serving as a point of inspiration for fictional narratives.

Many of the works on display at RMB Latitudes Art Fair exemplified the strangeness and charm of the bizarre in a venue so splendidly unorthodox that one might be forgiven for thinking it was designed for the very purpose.

The similarity in all these artists' work was that they allowed the clay to just be “the thing itself” they encouraged it to transcend its practicality, they handled it in its enduring and dynamic nature, they explored its time-based and process-driven element, it pulled them in, and they let it.

Art Fairs offer pathways of access to artists, exhibitors, and viewers – placemaking in an industry that so often hoards access. Latitudes serves to meet you half-way – to posit emergent work and spaces.

I was intrigued by Abate's technique, the ability to mix mediums, creating depth through paint and drawing then reducing it to a flat finish demonstrating the helplessness and defeat of his subjects.

During RMB Latitudes Art Fair 2024, Doha-based ARAK Collection, ran a workshop on art writing. The loss of many newspapers and publications has led to a decline in arts coverage and the near extinction of art criticism, worldwide. Which is why initiatives such as this, which not only train young writers, but also provide a platform to publish their work, are invaluable.

It is true that African art is distinctive. This is not because it is peculiarly ‘African’, but because it is intensively responsive to the fallout of slavery, indenture, Empire – matters that persist today.

Andy Warhol’s prescient declaration, that in the future everyone would achieve a fifteen-minute fame, is important for two reasons: firstly, because he anticipated more efficient information and communication networks which would render everyone and everything everywhere all at once.

As art fairs tend to be staged inside convention centres it is rare to encounter works that are fitting to the environment – unless they happen to offer a wry commentary on art fair culture. This is what is special about Shepstone Gardens and this fair – the myriad of buildings and spaces lend themselves to particular works being shown in them.

We are thrilled to share that RMB Latitudes Art Fair teamed up with Unofficial Officials once again to curate an exciting music element for the RMB Latitudes Art Fair. This year, alongside their signature playlists, Unofficial Officials had 'The Dig x Jazz re:freshed' and Kagiso Makgalemele bringing their unique sounds that elevated the art fair experience.

This year, in addition to providing private chauffeured drives to RMB Latitudes Art Fair, Lexus presents the Lexus Critics’ Choice Award, which celebrates the Best Stand at RMB Latitudes 2024.

Collaborative printmaking emerges out of centuries of developing traditions and techniques, and a uniquely productive rapport between artist and printmaker.