15th Mar, 2023 18:00
20th Century & Contemporary Art
15
Trevor Makhoba (South Africa 1956-2003)
Special Prescription
oil on board
Artwork date: 2002
Signature details: signed and dated bottom right
Sold for R91,040
Estimated at R70,000 - R100,000
oil on board
Artwork date: 2002
Signature details: signed and dated bottom right
(1)
49 x 74 cm; framed size: 67 x 92 x 6 cm
Provenance:
Campbell Smith Collection, Cape Town.
ABOUT THE ARTWORK:
In October 2022, the Norval Foundation mounted a review exhibition Congress: The Social Body in Three Figurative Painters. George Pemba, Trevor Makhoba, Stembiso Sibisi. Curated by Sean O’Toole, the exhibition focused on three social realist artists from different eras, while also once again putting the spotlight on the work of Makhoba and the valuable achievements of ReVisions: Expanding the Narrative of South African Art in exhibiting and publishing a substantial amount of the work on the late Durban artist.
Drawing on his experiences of life and contemporary events in KwaZulu-Natal, “Makhoba’s unique vision melds cultural memory and moral fervour with satire and social commentary. His compositions are noteworthy for their inventive design and visual punch that challenge bland characterisations of his work as social realist” (1) writes O’Toole.
As the title suggests, Special Prescription is a comical introduction – or description – of the narrative scene in the painting. Here, referring to the carnal act that is taking place between the nurse and patient in a (state) hospital setting, at night time, while another patient is voyeuristically looking at them.
Makhoba is noted for his willingness to tackle complicated and risqué social subjects in his paintings - ranging from gender issues, contemporary histories and the influence of indigenous religious beliefs, and sexual taboos, crime to the HIV/AIDS pandemic – in an ironic, unapologetic and uncensored way.
Trevor Makhoba’s paintings, particularly his mature works (from the 1990s and 2000s), like Special Prescription are rare and seldom come to the market.
Text by Marelize van Zyl
[1] O’Toole, S. (2021). Congress: The Social Body in Three Figurative Painters. George Pemba, Trevor Makhoba and Stembiso Sibisi. Cape Town: Norval Foundation.
COLLECTOR'S NOTE:
Trevor Makhoba received the Standard Bank Young Artist Award in 1996.
COLLECTIONS:
The artist is represented in numerous local and international collections, notably, Iziko South African National Gallery, Cape Town; Durban Art Gallery; Johannesburg Art Gallery; Carnegie Art Museum, Newcastle; Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Museum, Port Elizabeth and University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.
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Auction: 20th Century & Contemporary Art, 15th Mar, 2023
Kickstarting the 2023 program Aspire Art are delighted to present their first Live sale, 20th Century & Contemporary Art in March. The sale has become a highly anticipated event in the Cape Town auction calendar, showcasing and recognising works by truly exceptional artists from Southern Africa.
Contemporary highlights include seminal works by William Kentridge, Robert Hodgins, Sue Williamson, Johannes Phokela, Zander Blom, Athi-Patra Ruga, Dan Halter and Georgina Gratrix amongst others. International superstars include Pascale Marthine Tayou and Francisco Vidal. Photographic works feature prominently as a special section and include limited editioned prints by celebrated documentary photographers Alf Kumalo and David Goldblatt alongside incredible photographic works by artists like Mary Sibande, Ayana Jackson, Candice Breitz and the award-winning Mikhael Subotzky.
Leading the sale is a group of important and rare works by South African modern masters, most significantly a selection of expressive drawings by Dumile Feni and paintings by social realist George Pemba. The modern collection is complimented by a landscape painted by J.H. Pierneef and a beautifully rendered gouache by Irma Stern from 1951.
Preview: 10 to15 March
Mon-Fri: 8.30-4.30, Saturday: 10-2 or by appointment
HIGHLIGHTS
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