nirox rocks

So we finally made it to the Nirox Art Foundation this last weekend. Blindingly hot day, gorgeous park-like gardens, a curator who gave us great insight into the art in the landscape, all meant it was a fabulous experience.

Nirox is not strictly speaking open to the public. They do, however, have open day events and this was one of them. The artists in this exhibition included Willem Boshof, Willie Bester, Strydom Van der Merwe, and Deborah Bell, amongst others (Thomas, the star man; Brett Murray; Kentridge of course).

I love this kind of landscape art. Interestingly (perhaps not surprisingly) much of it has an environmental message too - about our human footprint in the natural world. Strydom's work with dew and frost, and sticks in trees is so gentle, but very effective. His red 'bench' block placed on the grass (not so gentle) makes a very loud statement. But part of its intent is to show what happens to the grass underneath it when there's no sun.

I love Deborah Bell's work. The curator - Neil -mentioned that some people don't like the historical and classic imagery. I do. I particularly liked her sculpture of 'crossing' - which has a personal link for her to her father's death. It's a figure standing above a canoe (OK the traditional West African version, definitely not a contemporary Western canoe). And then there's a baby great dane sculpture on another (so no wonder i loved it). They are both positioned on an aqueduct which is the original one for water from/ to the river.

We heard they are planning an opera some sunday afternoon soon, with the music being performed on the lake. No doubt a very modern unusual one. I can't wait. Phew, such a relief to find somewhere beautiful in a green outdoorsy way, and inspirational in an artsy way, close to home. Enough of the urban jungle and every-increasing road rage. Now i can escape to Nirox, when they'll have me. And yes, it's very bourgeois and no, not the gritty harsh joburg we all know, but that's OK too. As one of the artists (I think it's Brett Murray) puts it on a blind which offers the pavilion overlooking the lake some shade, "pass me the cucumber sandwiches, we are having a picnic darling" or something to that effect.