My opening speech for an exhibition I curated

For Arts Sake Exhibition
ArtBox Gallery
Curator: Sammy Muller
Opened 3 March 2018
Opening Speech: Sammy Muller (Artkapture)
Welcome and thank you all for joining us this evening for the opening of For Arts Sake Exhibition.
I’d like to thank Artbox and Etienne for giving me the opportunity to curate this exhibition and a huge thank you to Will and Reinhardt for all their help. Most importantly though, a special thank you to all the artists for your participation on such short notice.
Now… I need to make a small confession to all the artists participating. When I sent you the invitation to participate, I said due to the short notice, there was no theme or concept, but this was a little white lie. I had a concept playing out in my mind.
We live in a world of divisions and sub-divisions and we use words to emphasize these divisions, but I don’t believe that words were created with the purpose to divide us.
Words, originally created to describe people and things are now being used to divide… and this happens everywhere, including in the arts.
Within the arts we use gender to divide us, we use style and genre to divide us, subject matter divides us, medium divides us.
The word, artist, itself divides us from the rest of humanity and when used as a description sets us artists aside as unique and creative, but all people are creative in different ways. The word artist though, does not fully describe what it is to be a successful artist. Artists are also business entrepreneurs, marketing experts, social media gurus, progressive thinkers and master researchers…all under that one little word, artist.
Within arts we divide and sub-divide into different styles, genres, media, beginners, emerging and established artists etc. However, none of these words should ever be divisive or elitist.
All art and artists should be celebrated and supported equally because it’s within these so called divisive words that individuality and variety emerges.
In this exhibition, For Arts Sake, I’ve incorporated artists within most of the traditional sub-divisions in the arts; from the decorative vintage car paintings of Joel to the conceptual works of Kim, Craig, Paballo and Cow Mash. Even within these conceptual artists their interpretation and style are completely different. We have many local artists here, but also we have some who are not. Mario, depicts in his etchings, scenes from his home in Mozambique and comparing it to his temporary or new home, Johannesburg. And Wendy Tsai, who is from Taiwan, she brings elements of her Eastern culture and traditional rice paper into her experience of South Africa. Andries, who has only recently started painting, but brings enthusiasm and eagerness to learn…and as he says, he’s just having fun. Michelle, who is returning to creating art after a long break. Isa, an established artist with a career spanning over 50 years, shows versatility of skills and dedication to the arts. Emerging artists: Katlego, Malose, Paballo and Cow Mash, all still at the beginning of their careers and already showing incredible technical ability and professionalism.
A variety of mediums and approach to styles are showcased this evening. Angie, Loeritha, Inanda, Adele, Ronel, Cara-Jo, Alecia and Corne all using paint as their chosen medium, but each has such individual and unique approach to their chosen style and genre…and each instantly recognizable. Annelise creates images of rich texture and colour through print media. Karin creates wonderfully intimate bronze sculptures. Nicole approaches art through modern digital media, drawing viewers into a new era of art. Louis and Danelle create starkly white on white images, focusing on the material rather than the medium. Finally, Jahni, uses mixed media and persistent drive for perfection is always show stopping.
This evening is a celebration of diversity.
So welcome again. Enjoy the diversity and let’s celebrate the difference of artists showcased this evening.