Following the huge success of last year’s first Klein Karoo National Arts Festival (KKNK) Virtual Gallery, this gallery supported by Absa, opened its “doors” for the second time but the clock is ticking as it will close by the end of October. “It is a privilege to once again be able to offer such a fantastic range of visual art to art enthusiasts in the comfort of their homes. Dineke van der Walt is the curator for the second year. She was awarded a kykNET Fiësta for Best Performance in Visual Arts for last year’s virtual gallery. This special art offering consists of five exhibitions with a total of 230 works by 70 artists,” says Hugo Theart, Artistic Director of the KKNK.
According to Theart, artists from far and wide across South Africa, as well as from Zimbabwe, Taiwan, America, Ghana, Mauritius, Kenya, Iran, and Namibia are involved, with many artists from the Klein Karoo and Garden Route region.
Amplifica – Xia Cweba- Ndithandaze {Digital drawing and paper collage}
Van der Walt says the theme for this year’s gallery is VOEL/FEEL. “This collection of exhibitions presents a wonderful opportunity for us to see, feel and understand more about the way we experience and process feelings and emotions. My hope is that you’ll find the experience enriching and exciting,” she says.
The five exhibitions that are still available to view are: Emotion (Emosie), compiled by Absa with Dr Paul Bayliss as curator; Feeling Things, compiled by Donavan Mynhardt; If you think about it, just midding in the meantine (or) progression, compiled by Fadzai Muchemwa; Something Pauses, compiled by Christa Swart and Amplifica: A Medley of Moods in Miniature, compiled by Van der Walt herself.
Dr Paul Bayliss, Senior Specialist Art Curator for Absa, says even though we cannot enjoy the arts physically, Absa and the team at the KKNK have persevered, bringing the visual arts directly to viewers in this virtual world we now live in. “The arts is the one place where we can bring possibilities to life as we tell the stories of our past, present and our future. 2021 marks 16 years of Absa as a proud sponsor of the KKNK and this bears testimony to the mutually beneficial nature of our relationship as we continue to play a shaping role in our society,” Bayliss says.
Theart says there is something for everyone at the exhibitions, with fantastic artworks on sale from only R500. Artworks can be bought online and selling prices include courier cost for addresses in South Africa. “All Absa customers also receive a 10% discount on their purchases,” he concludes.
Visit the KKNK Virtual Gallery, supported by Absa, at www.kknk.co.za
Feeling Things, Sonja Kastner, Men to the moon,ceramic_26cm,2021
Progression – Kate’Lyn Chetty, Sawoti River, 2021
Feeling Things – Evert Esterhuizen, Longing For a Different Day, Acrylic and Maker on Hardboard, 2021
Amplifica – Hannalie Taute TIDY SOUL 2021 Thread, found photograph and rubber 29 x 14 cm unframed