Art that empowers - Q&A with FNB JoburgArtFair producer Nicole Siegenthaler

Other than our featured artist, we do not exhibit any unaffiliated artists – meaning, we work directly with the galleries who in turn select the artist they will exhibit at the fair. The galleries are selected based on set criteria by our selection committee. The whole process begins about nine months before the fair each year.

One of the starting points for Dr. Zoe Whitley’s exhibition (and the title itself) was a line in Doris Lessing’s 1950 novel The Grass is Singing: “It is terrible to destroy a person’s picture of himself in the interests of truth or some other abstraction.” I’m very excited to see her exhibition, as well as hear her conversation with Penny Siopis, Sue Williamson, and Mmakgabo Mapula Helen Sebidi during our talks programme – this idea of artists as truth tellers, and what constitutes as “truth” has been a central theme in her research for her exhibition.

Personally, I always believe it is the duty of the artist to tell their truth, their story. That is what sparks conversation and ignites change in society. An honest artist is always interesting.

I am personally very excited to see Bronwyn Katz’s solo presentation with Blank Projects. I first saw her work in February and was completely drawn in. She has also just opened a new body of work in Blank Project’s new Cape Town space that I look forward to seeing later this month as well. First-time FNB JoburgArtFair exhibitor Mov’Art Gallery will be bringing Keyezua, a young Angolan artist to the fair – from the images and texts I’ve seen online, I am really looking forward to seeing the work in person and seeing her career develop.

I feel a lot of pressure to deliver for our galleries. Whether they are a small two-person team or one of the larger galleries in the country that participates in multiple international art fairs a year – for all of them, this is their moment. A lot of people don’t realize, but galleries prepare for months in advance for an art fair. They have a very focused space (their booth) wherein to put their best foot forward and take advantage of the spotlight on the fair that brings in a huge cross section of collectors, patrons and journalists. Our job is to help connect them to their clients and audience during each fair. We want to bring the best audience we can and help our gallerists realise their presentations 100%. It’s certainly a challenge, but an exciting one.

How does local art still need to be supported?

From the ground up. I was very lucky to be able to participate in art classes from elementary school which exposed me to a completely different world from my upbringing. My dad was the first in his family to go to university (he became an accountant); otherwise, we have all been farmers with the women sometimes taking part time secretarial positions if they can be spared from the farm/children. A career in the arts would never have been on my radar had my public school not had such a strong arts curriculum. I would love to see every child have such opportunity.

Be true to yourself and don’t let your voice be drowned out. Even if you’re not a loud person, there are other ways to be heard. If you’re true to yourself, your place in the world will be genuine.

fnbjoburgartfair.co.za | Tickets available from tickets.tixsa.co.za