Lasting Influences, Johannesburg

10 Jun - 24 Jul 2021

The lasting influence of an artist can be a result of an academic career which sees them transferring skills and ideas to others, or capturing the public imagination in rapid time, because their work is so original, unusual or controversial. Frequently, the lecturer seen as too exacting and strict, or the surprisingly successful artist at first dismissed as a "9 day wonder" and the controversial artist who once shocked us, produce changes in opinion as time elapses and cement a place in the art history of our culture.

This exhibition examines some truly enduring legacies, and features examples of the works of such artists, which to this day are admired and seen as inspirational by contemporary artists.

Living or deceased, these artists transcended South African modernism and have endured as powerful visual influencers into the contemporary era..

For the current group of trendsetting artists, students of art history, aspirant collectors, or institutions seeking to make their historic collections more widely representative of the past cultural landscape of South Africa this exhibition features a selection of works by 25 artists who exhibited with Goodman Gallery over the past half century or so. Most works date from the 20th Century between 1969 and 1999. Others are from the earlier 2000's but what they share is a that these are are still recognisable, uniquely typical of the output of artists who first found success 25, 30, 40 or 55 years ago.

During this period the strongly Modernist content of South African fine art was increasingly altered by notions of what Contemporary Art would become. Changes in media, materials and the rise of a more African voice in international discourse all played a part in an exciting wave of new shifts in the appreciation of art which engaged with the times, the politics, the diversity of our culture.

Lasting Influences presents selected works by leading artists who worked during this period with Goodman Gallery, from the 1960's to the 2000's, and who today have a well earned place in art history. They still command respect, critical acclaim, academic study, and investor interest today, because their legacies exert influence on the audience of our time. Almost all will be familiar names, some works have not been exhibited before, others will be remembered by of the exhibition, or spark interest from those who are younger than the artworks!