X-PART III: SMAC - 10 Year Anniversary Exhibition

Walking down the green avenues of Stellenbosch during December is one of my favourite things to do. There's a romance that lingers in the air as corner cafés fill up with tourists and the pace of everyday life slows down for the summer. Historic buildings frame street edges with beautiful colonial details and contemporary art installations breathe a breath of fresh air into little plazas and urban thoroughfares.

Cyrus Kabiru Macho Nne: Blue Rushes 2017 Mixed Media 18 x 28 x 10 cm Unique

Photograph: Jan de Wet

On one of my walkabouts, I passed SMAC gallery in the De Wet Centre. Being a supporter of the arts and a loyal visitor of the Cape Town studio, I decided to pay them a visit. I was pleasantly surprised when I came across the X: PART III, Group Exhibition. SMAC celebrates their 10th year in the art world and curated an exhibition with work from some of the finest artists associated. Having worked with Jean Butler [managing director] and Shona Van Der Merwe [associate director] as designer for a new gallery in Seapoint, I knew the selection of work and curating would be noteworthy.

SMAC INTERIOR

Photograph: Jan de Wet

What struck me most, apart from the quality and variety of the artwork, was the harmonious relationship between the architecture and art. From the moment you enter the gallery and ascend to the first floor, you become aware of the layering of space and how strategically everything is arranged to allow the architecture to frame and celebrate the work.

SMAC ENTRANCE

Photograph: Jan de Wet

A minimalist staircase creates a great amount of anticipation as you enter. On arrival, a Peter Eastman peeks through the half-closed door, and by the time you have walked down the lit path created by the spinal skylight, you become faced with the Koeksister Sisters by Marlene Steyn. Moving through the space, big open sash windows invite the vibrancy of the street in and contrary to traditional exhibition space, become an extension of the backdrop on which the art is

displayed.

Ruann Coleman Wait I 2017 Steel, Rock 192 x 52 x 50 cm Unique

Photograph: Jan de Wet

Masimba Hwati Cornucopia 2017 Mixed Media 210 x 70 x 25 cm Unique

Photograph: Jan de Wet

Pierre Vermeulen Hair Orchid Box 24 Orchids 2017 Gold Leaf Imitate and Artists Hair on Aluminium 104 x 145 x 18 cm Unique

Photograph: Jan de Wet

Pierre Vermeulen Hair Orchid Box 24 Orchids 2017 Gold Leaf Imitate and Artists Hair on Aluminium 104 x 145 x 18 cm Unique

Photograph: Jan de Wet

The collection of work is quite extensive, allowing the viewer to get a glimpse of the diverse topics artists deal with. Artists that I connected with include: Hair Orchid Box by Pierre Vermeulen, Cornucopia by Masimba Hwati and Wait I by Ruann Coleman.