Pre Renovations Archives

Albert Adams (1929-2006) – a fractured history

The retrospective of Albert Adams’ oeuvre spanned more than fifty years and highlighted his contribution as an exceptional artist and humanist. His remarkable, monumental triptychs, South Africa 1959, dubbed his “Guernica”, along with South Africa 1958-59 (Deposition), which features a crucified black Christ, was central to this exhibition. His self-portraits, a recurring theme in his work, displayed an agitated urgency and multi-levelled self-reflection.

Five

A permanent exhibition featuring Mrs Huberte Rupert’s favourite 20th century South African artists namely – Irma Stern (1894-1966), Maggie Laubser (1886-1973), Anton van Wouw (1862-1945), Cecil Higgs (1900- 1986) and Jean Welz (1900-1975).

JH Pierneef – The Johannesburg Station Panels

Jacobus Hendrik Pierneef (1886-1957), a notable landscape artist in the mediums of painting and printmaking was commissioned in 1929 to paint places of natural beauty and historical value for display at the Johannesburg train station.

Walter Battiss (1906-1982) – “I invented myself”

The exhibition was divided and installed into five separate ‘lives’ or periods. This conceptual basis was informed by an extract from a letter written by Walter Battiss to friend, lover and confidant Dacre Punt in London in December 1967: “I have decided to live for ever, but am ready, if necessary, to die now & for me I’ve had 4 lives already & am on my 5th.”