The message from artists at the Positive Hope Healing and Compassion Exhibition
At Sun City: 8th - 11th June 2006
For the first time, international and South African icons of music, fashion, cuisine and art will come together under the banner of Positive for an unparalleled Aids fundraising event at Sun City from June 8 to 11, 2006.
With names like Seal, Versace and Conrad Gallagher on board in their respective fields, the artistic branch of the event will be represented by more than 100 South African artists who will collaborate creatively to increase social awareness, educate audiences and embrace cultures in the fight against HIV/Aids.
Most importantly, they will be working together to raise funds for the Tapologo Aids Hospice in the North West Province.
The Positive Hope Healing and Compassion art exhibition is based on the mission statement of Tapalogo and is part of a host of specially-planned events over the four days, for both the public and specially invited guests.
The exhibition will be curated by leading British artist Craig Kilford, who is bringing together this fusion of established artists, students and up-and-coming artists.
The coming together of such creativity in the theme of hope, healing and compassion will not only have an immediate positive impact on the lives of those living at the hospice but will send a message to the world that creativity must not discriminate, just as we must not discriminate against those who have HIV/Aids, says Kilford.
The Hope Healing and Compassion exhibition will be open to the public from 8th to 11th June in the Hall of Treasures at Sun City. A minimum of 40% of the proceeds of artworks sold will be donated to Tapologo. A number of artists, however, have generously donated 100% of the sale value.
Some of the established artists exhibiting include Carrol Boyes, Guy du Toit, Barbara Jackson, Chris Diedricks, Johnson Baloyi, Ruth Levy and Conrad van Wyk.
Renowned for her work in the medium of metal, designer Carrol Boyes's love of and for South Africa is boundless and evident in her work; she is involved in many different social projects and donates to charitable organisations on an ongoing basis.
A large multicultural team of nearly 400 assists her with the design, production, sales and administration of the business.
Sculptor Guy du Toit has also exhibited widely both locally and abroad, including China, USA and Germany, and is well represented in local, private, public and corporate collections.
He is the recipient of various awards, such as The Sol Plaatjie Sculpture Award and two Volkskas Atelier Merit Awards. He has twice been a finalist in the Brett Kebble Art Awards.
Ceramicist Barbara Jackson's innovative and exotic pots are inspired by the social and political transformation of South Africa. Jackson's work has been displayed all over the world, from the South African Cultural History Museum in Cape Town, to South Africa House in London and the National History Museum in Tapei, Taiwan.
Joining these esteemed artists are rising stars of the South African art world, like James Delaney, Peter van Tonder, Hugo Maritz, Sophie Peters, Lee-Ann January, Nawa Nkaoli and Nirupa Sing.
Martine Jackson is one of this country's most innovative and exciting new artists. By experimenting with the fusion of old and new, past and present, as well as old fashioned with modern techniques such as screen printing, beadwork, painting and graphic design, Jackson creates one-of-a-kind artworks with decorative elements.
Young and upcoming photographer Justin Dingwall, a graduate of Tshwane University of Technology, has received accolades in the Fuji Southern African Photographic Competition, and a mention as a talented photographer in the SA Photo Journal. He has already set his sights high with his first successful solo exhibition in Pretoria entitled Portraying Life.
Nirupa Sing has exhibited locally and internationally, and her work focuses on larger social issues.
Having lived most of my life under apartheid, complicated by its legacy of poverty and the plight of women, children and HIV/Aids, healing and repair are the essence of my current work, she says.
Recycling and reframing for regeneration.
In addition to Positive Hope Healing and Compassion, several local and international, celebrity musicians, sports personalities and politicians will participate in the Wall of Hope, an exhibition comprising works created around the same theme as the main exhibition.
Joining Craig Kilford in this exhibition will be celebrity canvasses by international stars Diana Ross, Westlife, Katie Melua, Aretha Franklin, The Feeling, Feeder and Metallica.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Cindy Nel, Makhaya Ntini, Jaques Kallis, Yvonne Chaka Chaka and Gwen Gill will also be providing artworks, with many more to follow to make up this magnificent structure.
Positive is an amalgamation of fashion, art and music and will staged in a unique manner. Seal's performance will form the highlight of this event on June 9 with the addition of four international supermodels who will be showcasing local and international fashion collections.
During the event an exclusive auction will be held of specific exhibited work, international collection fashion garments and other limited edition items. All proceeds raised will be donated to Sun International's CSI project, the Tapologo Aids Hospice.