Visual artists to capture Covid-19 experience in #TheLockdownCollection initiative

The new charitable initiative aimed at capturing these extraordinary times in South African history and raising much-needed funds for artists and the broader community as a result of the ripple effect of Covid-19.

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Penny Siopos “THE GIANT SOUL” MEDIUM GLUE, INK, OIL STAIN, AND NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS ON PAPER 29.5 X 39.5CM The title of @pennysiopis 's intimate painting “The Giant Soul” is a phrase from newspapers collected during the period of lockdown. The artist says the phrase struck her as an emotive and poetic way to think about “the collective” as a giant soul. “Solidarity. In this time of isolation we can metaphorically become one with souls all over the world, as well as those inhabiting the afterlife,” says Siopis. The tendril form of the newspaper clippings echoes “Late and Soon”, a gigantic work Siopis made in 2013 in response to a devastating personal loss. The artist turned her apartment into a studio for lockdown, describing this new working space as small and beautiful. She is continuing to work with glue and ink, the medium Siopis has been experimenting with for years. “It’s an unpredictable process, with the glue changing from white substance to transparent layer as it reacts to the air, ink, water, gravity and my gestures. You have to give over to what happens, a situation full of risk and uncertainty.” Should you be interested in bidding on this or any other works in the collection, you can do so online at @aspireartauctions . All offers close on Sunday,19 April 2020 during our online auction event at 16:00pm (SAST). #TheLockdownCollection #ArtForGood This is your opportunity to not only make a difference to those who need it but also to add artwork to your collection that documents this historical period in world history. You can view the entire collection on our website (www.thelockdowncollection.com) or any of our social media platforms.

A post shared by The Lockdown Collection (@thelockdowncollection) on Apr 16, 2020 at 8:00am PDT

Art inspires

The art-inspired initiative is the brainchild of Carl Bates (chief executive of Sirdar Group), Lauren Woolf (founder and owner, Mrs Woolf) and Kim Berman (founding director, Artist Proof Studio. Professor, Visual Arts, UJ). It was created to immediately and sustainably assist the art community during the lockdown period in South Africa. The online campaign was launched across various social media platforms from 27 March and will be running until 17 April 2020.

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@willem_boshoff_artist “PILLARS OF JUSTICE II” (2019) EDITION: 5/7 WITH CRATE MEDIUM LEADWOOD AND RED IVORY WOOD ARTWORK 20 x 20cm BASE/TRAY 22 x 22 x 1,5cm The sculpture SEVEN PILLARS OF JUSTICE II (2019), is numbered 5 out of an edition of 7. It was created after the original SEVEN PILLARS OF JUSTICE I, which was commissioned by the Law Faculty of the Rand Afrikaans University (now University of Johannesburg) to be presented as a parting gift to Professor Frans Malan after 27 years of service and in celebration of his appointment to the bench of the South African Supreme Court of Appeal. The original work of 1997 was conceived by Malan and Boshoff together “to illustrate the interaction between the hard and fast legal rules (ius strictum) and the more yielding adaptability of our common law (ius honorarium)”. The Seven Pillars of Wisdom of T. E. Lawrence served as a point of departure, with Malan giving them judicial names. These maxims have been written in braille on the pillars to play on the idea that justice is ‘blind’. Should you be interested in reserving this artwork, place your bid online at @aspireartauctions here https://bit.ly/2UVHmwR . Offers close 21 April 2020. #ArtForGood #TheLockdownCollection

A post shared by The Lockdown Collection (@thelockdowncollection) on Apr 9, 2020 at 8:00am PDT

The artists’ works not only have an opportunity to record this extraordinary time, but also to inspire the country with their visual voices and encourage those that can buy works, to support those that need it most.

Anyone can support the initiative by purchasing art pieces showcased on the #TheLockdownCollection social media platforms or simply donating to the fund. All proceeds generated from the campaign will go to participating artists, the president’s Solidarity Fund as well as a newly created Vulnerable Visual Artist Fund, which intends to be open for grants as soon as possible.

Rebuilding value in the arts during Covid-19

Rucera Seethal  15 Apr 2020

“Covid-19 has changed the world. Its impact is still unimaginable. Art and artists have always been a critical part of society and culture. Like everyone, they are deeply affected by the calamity of Covid-19. Many have or will lose their livelihoods and have little means to survive. But they absolutely must – they are humanity’s lens and the visual authors of our time. Our country needs them to record what will probably be the most pivotal moment in our society since 1994,” says Kim Berman.

Capturing the Covid-19 experience

A series of 21 art pieces, each created by a different South African artist, will be revealed each day during the lockdown period. Participating artists will create a piece of artwork that reflects the thoughts, feelings, vision or captured moments of their Covid-19 experience. Each piece will form part of a historic ‘Lockdown Collection’ that will be hosted online and sold during the 21 days.

This unique collection, featuring so many incredible creative minds will be celebrated with an ‘online’ event on the evening of the 21st day. Artists that are participating include a broad spectrum of talent – from Bambo Sibiya, Penny Siopis, Gerhard Marx, Lindo Zwane, Ardmore Ceramic Art, Walter Oltmann, Dianne Victor and more.

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Artist: Thabiso Mohlakoana Title: @Ardmore Pangolin Bowl Size: 30cm x 15cm The Ardmore Pangolin Bowl is a work-in progress. Delicately sculptured by Thabiso Mohlakoana, it is a work interrupted by the current COVID19 Lockdown when Thabiso and all South Africans, went home in an effort to protect one another. He created this bowl with multiple pangolins around the rim, in the hope that they will survive extinction after the virus has passed. He is hoping that new awareness will grow around the trafficking of animals and that man and nature can once again find a way to co-exist. #artforgood #Ardmore #thelockdowncollection #ArdmoreArtists

A post shared by The Lockdown Collection (@thelockdowncollection) on Mar 29, 2020 at 8:55am PDT

The proceeds from the sale of the artworks and donations are raising money for:

• The President’s Solidarity Fund to help all vulnerable people of SA in their time of need
• The Vulnerable Visual Artist Fund to support as many vulnerable individuals in the visual arts
• The participating artists

“As momentum builds, we believe that many artists, motivated by the challenge, can begin to create their own ‘lockdown works’ inspired by their colleagues and heroes,” explains Carl Bates. “We hope to continue this movement as long as required to be as sustainably helpful as we can into the future and to create a uniquely South African viewpoint of this period.”

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We have come to the end of the initial 21 Days of Lockdown. During this period we have shared incredible artwork from 21 South African Artists. These works have formed part of the #TheLockdownCollection, and will be unlocked for auction on Sunday 21st of April at 16h00 SAST, on the @aspireartauctions platform. Proceeds from the sale of these artworks go towards the Solidarity Fund and A vulnerable visual artists fund. This is your opportunity to not only make a difference to those who need it but also to add artwork to your collection that documents this historical period in world history. You can view the entire collection on our website (www.thelockdowncollection.com) or any of our social media platforms. #TheLockdownCollection #ArtForGood

A post shared by The Lockdown Collection (@thelockdowncollection) on Apr 17, 2020 at 4:56am PDT

For more info go to www.thelockdowncollection.com, to register for the live auction this Sunday 19 April at 4pm (SAST) click here