RT

The more objects we accumulate and preserve and thus contribute to the recordings of art history, we wonder, what constitutes a 'Master' or 'Genius' in our contemporary art world?

In art history, the word ‘Master’ is attributed mainly to European men - like the ubiquitous “master painters” of the past centuries - Leonardo da Vinci, Caravaggio, or Diego Velazquez.

Similar to that understanding, the term Genius describes an outstanding creation by an artist that causes such intense ripples in how we perceive art and thus the world - often in retrospect. The concept of the 'Master/Genius' is still primarily used to enshrine artworks - that have been identified as such - understood in conjunction with their portrayed ideas of the world within time and space and therefore collected, preserved, and added value material as well as social value. In short, they become traces of future understandings and representations.
Regarding Time looks at artists in the present and artists from the past, offering visual contemplations concerning the materiality of artworks - the human experience, a reference that shifts from context to context, similar to the indexical meaning of the ‘Master’.
When breaking down these terms and disconnecting them from their burden of institutional and historical power but rather using them according to what they describe as an indexical: the master as an artist who, with their creative work, causes a substantial shift within the dominant perception and therefore urges us to think, feel and situate ourselves and the society it was birthed from.

This exhibition is by no means a conclusive answer but a gentle attempt to highlight outstanding artists within our proximity and an invitation to debate and recognise the masterful aspects of each of these artists' works.

artists
Gerard Sekoto
George Pemba
Malangatana Ngwenya
Helen Sebidi
Johannes Phokela
Vivien Kohler
Sarah Tabane
Roger Botembe
Mary Sibande
Yinka Shonibare
Santu Mofokeng
Andrew Tshabangu
Charles Nkosi
Kenrick McFarlane
Ben Arnold
Durant Sihlali
Dumile Feni
Percy Konqobe