SculptX, South Africa's largest sculpture fair opens this Spring

The annual sculpture fair will present over 200 works this year. The materials they are fashioned from vary from bronze to wood, glass, crystal, steel, bone to stone, plant-based resin and other media. Similarly, the modes of expression encompassed in this vast number of sculptures vary widely too from figurative works, depicting the human body, the natural world, or the built environment to abstract works, where form, texture and line entertain the eye.

A celebration of sculptural expression

In this way, SculptX reveals the breadths and depths that this traditional art medium can offer and the abundance of artistic talent in the country that has applied itself to this three-dimensional art form.  In short, SculptX is a celebration of all manner of sculptural expression.

It was established by The Melrose Gallery in 2017 in association with Melrose Arch, and will be on view across multiple venues from 3 September - 24 October 2021.

We wanted to create a platform to promote sculpture and sculptors to those who live, work, and play in the precinct, as well as art collectors and enthusiasts in general,” says Craig Mark, director of The Melrose gallery.

The fair was also conceived in response to the increase in bronze-casting foundries in South Africa, which has led to growth in the production and interest in sculpture. This has translated into the establishment of outdoor sculpture parks in the country by a number of art foundations and artists primarily working in this medium.

SculptX provides a space for artists at different levels in their careers. Established artists; Anton Smit, Andries Botha, Willie Bester, Pitika Ntuli, Andre Stead and Strijdom van der Merwe amongst numerous others, will show alongside a younger set of artists pushing the boundaries of the medium such as Sophie Van Wyk, Nindya Bucktowar, Mandy Johnston and Kenneth Shandu, as well as other emerging artists still exploring the possibilities of sculpture.

Female artists are represented strongly in the fair with works by well-known artists such as; Noria Mabasa, Wilma Cruise, Elizabeth Balcomb, and Ledelle Moe among many others.

“We have put much effort into sourcing female and young artists from the previously disadvantaged communities to give them the benefit of this valuable platform as they are often overlooked and under-represented in this genre,” adds Mark.

A public call-out process was used to identify works for the fair and attracted proposals from many emerging artists. More than 350 submissions were considered before 200 works by 90 artists were chosen.

Highlights

Some of the highlights will include a work titled Amissa Anima Mea (Lost Soul) by Andries Botha, which is created from hot-dipped, galvanised mild steel, leadwoods and Nguni cow skin. Jacques Dhont’s giant ‘plant vessels’ will return our attention to the natural world, while Ledelle Moe’s concrete and steel Findings IV, which consists of small forms mapping astronomical and geological locations, will prompt questions about our place in the universe and how we mark time.

Nicola Roos’s intricate sculptures of black Samurai warriors, which shines a light on unexplored African history will also be an attraction. These works will be complemented by a script reading by award-winning director, producer Mandla Walter Dube, from his upcoming film about the Black Samurai Legend of Yasuke.

The works will be shown at the Melrose Gallery and a number of other venues at Melrose Arch, which include the Daytona showroom, as well as Sandton City’s Diamond Walk.

This year the event will also be paired with an online viewing room where more details about the works and the artists will be available, allowing those near and far to enjoy and browse through the vast content this fair offers. Panel discussions and talks focussed on the artists and sculpture as a form of expression will be held during the two-month run of the fair.

SculptX runs from 3 September to 24 October 2021 at Melrose Gallery, Melrose Arch, Diamond Walk.