Afrika which way? Gouache and collage, 1978 (Copyright the artist, courtesy of William Humphreys Art Gallery)
When: 16th January – 9th March 2013
Where: Rivington Place, London EC2A 3BA
£: Free
What is it?
As South Africa prepares to celebrate 20 years since the elections that brought Nelson Mandela to President, and with Jacob Zuma recently securing a controversial second-term to lead the governing African National Congress, Iniva reflects on the nation’s social and political history through the work of internationally acclaimed artist and writer, Peter Clarke. Wind Blowing on the Cape Flats honours Clarke’s life, work and contribution to art over sixty years and tells the story of an artist whose sharp, poignant and aesthetically memorable work provides an extraordinary context for discussion of apartheid and post-apartheid South Africa.
One of the most accomplished and versatile visual South African artists, Peter Clarke was born in 1929. In his early twenties he declared that he would make his living as an artist, which was a highly unusual ambition for a young black South African at the time. Clarke’s art is about people, and in his reflection of humanity and in the contribution he has made to his country’s cultural development, he has become an inspiration to many other artists. Wind Blowing on the Cape Flats charts his development as an artist, his prolific creativity as a painter, printmaker and an internationally acclaimed writer and poet through over 80 works including paintings, drawings, prints, woodcuts, collages, sketchbooks as well as artist books.
Coming and going, oil, 1960 (Copyright the artist, courtesy of private collection)
In partnership with the South African National Gallery (Iziko Museums of South Africa), Iniva presents this major retrospective and first substantial exhibition in the UK of Peter Clarke’s work. Wind Blowing on the Cape Flats is curated by Tessa Jackson and Riason Naidoo, Director: Art Collections (South African National Gallery & Old Town House), Iziko Museums of South Africa. The exhibition continues Iniva’s work to promote culturally diverse artists, curators, writers and thinkers ignored by mainstream institutions.
An extended programme of events runs alongside the exhibition season including:
Hans Ulrich Obrist in conversation with Peter Clarke : 16th January at 6.30pm, £6 (£4)
Co-director of the Serpentine Gallery, Hans Ulrich Obrist continues his on-going Conversation Project (1996 -) with artist and writer, Peter Clarke.
‘You Can’t Get Lost in Cape Town’: 24th January at 6.30pm, £6 (£4)
Internationally acclaimed writer Zoe Wicomb reads from her work – short stories and novels, set in both apartheid and post-apartheid South Africa – and reflects on key issues in relation to Peter Clarke’s work.
Wednesday lunchtime tours : 30th January, 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th February & 6th March at 1.15pm
Rivington Place gallery invigilators lead a tour of the Peter Clarke exhibition describing key works as well as their personal favourites.
Prints as Weapons: Printmaking Course. Course dates: 30th January & 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th February, £50 incl materials.
Inspired by the history of printmaking from the Mexican Revolution to the recent Occupy Wall Street movement, this 5 session printmaking course explores how printmaking techniques can give a voice to political thought and actions.
Curator’s Tour : 31st January at 6.30pm, free
Tessa Jackson, Iniva Chief Executive and co-curator of Wind Blowing on the Cape Flats leads a tour of Peter Clarke’s retrospective and expands on his life and work.
Stuart Hall Library Research Network : 31st January, 28th February & 28th March at 6.30pm, free
Post-graduate students present and discuss an aspect of their research.
Ingredients for Debate? : 7th February at 6.30pm, £6 (£4)
Gillian Slovo, well know novelist, playwright and memoirist, in conversation with Tamar Garb, University College London, about how she has drawn upon personal history and experience to debate the politics of South Africa, including its Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Visual Traditions, past and present: 14th February at 6.30pm, £6 (£4)
Providing a context for Peter Clarke’s work, a panel including independent curator Christine Eyene, share their knowledge of recent visual arts developments in South Africa.
Art & Activism in Contemporary South Africa: 7th March at 6.30pm, £6 (£4)
This lecture by Annie E. Coombes, Professor of Material and Visual Culture at Birkbeck College, University of London, explores women’s art practice in South Africa as an alternative political arena.
More info: www.rivingtonplace.org