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Saturday, December 6, 2014

THE ART OF DEMOCRACY



(Michael Mpungose, Soccer Player, wood)

An exhibition titled The Art of Democracy: Twenty years of Collecting opens in the Main Room of the Tatham Art Gallery in Pietermaritzburg on December 9.

This exhibition will remain in place until June next year. A selection of art works from the permanent collection acquired since 1994 are displayed in all areas of the Gallery. They are identified by coloured labels. Therefore patrons are invited to reflect on what has happened in the Tatham Art Gallery in the past 20 years and view the director’s choice. One will ponder in each and every work and start a discourse within one’s mind.\

For the past 20 years, the growth of the Gallery's permanent collection has been significantly affected by significant change in South Africa. Political, social, and economic shifts have impacted on the Gallery's acquisitions policy, as have developments in art making and theory. What has been acquired for the permanent collection is the result of these shifts, taking cognizance of the collection's growth from its founding in 1903. The most challenging aspects of collecting during this period have been selecting for inclusivity, the breakdown in barriers between so-called “high art” and craft, and focusing the Gallery's role as a regional repository of visual art heritage. This selection of art works acquired from 1994 onwards is both a celebration and an opportunity for reflection.

The Tatham Art Gallery is situated opposite the Town Hall in Chief Albert Luthuli Street, Pietermaritzburg. It is open from Tuesdays to Sundays from 10h00 to 17h00. Café Tatham is open on Saturdays. Safe parking with a car guard available. More information on 033 392 2801 or visit www.tatham.org.za