Strauss & co - 2019 Mid-year Review

Strauss & Co believes in active corporate citizenship and continues to commit its resources and energies to various activities and projects that emphasise social engagement and education. In 2018, Strauss & Co announced the creation of a post-graduate educational bursary to encourage and support art and art history post-graduate studies in South Africa. The initiative is funded by 20% of the net proceeds of Strauss & Co’s annual contemporary art sale. The three recipients of 2019 bursaries are: Athenkosi Kwinana (MA, University of Johannesburg), Salomé Le Roux (MA, University of Pretoria) and Arisha Maharaj (MA, University of the Witwatersrand). Strauss & Co’s longstanding commitment to contemporary art saw the company as one of the sponsors of the African Art in Venice Forum, a three-day meeting of African art professionals that coincided with this year’s 58th Venice Biennale. Frank Kilbourn also participated in a panel discussion. The discussion focused on creative strategies and strategic actions required to ensure that participating with a national pavilion at the Venice Biennale has a sustainable impact on the local art economy. Even though it falls outside the period under review, Strauss & Co’s participation in the RMB Turbine Art Fair in mid-July deserves mention. Strauss & Co has been a loyal exhibitor at this vibrant art fair in Johannesburg since its inception seven years ago. This year the company presented an exhibition devoted to influential painters Louis Khehla Maqhubela and Douglas Portway. Organisedby Strauss &Co senior art specialist Wilhelm van Rensburg, A Meeting of Minds examined the intersection of Maqhubela and Portway’s work. Composed of works drawn from various private and corporate collections, as well as the Johannesburg Art Gallery, Wits Art Museum and Pretoria Art Museum, the exhibition provided important historical reference within the context of a contemporary art fair. Coinciding with this historical exhibition, Strauss & Co hosted an historical exhibition devoted to sculptor Peter Haden, a dynamic figure in 1960s Johannesburg. Organised by collector and academic Dr Gavin Watkins, in association with Strauss & Co, and hosted also at its Houghton premises, Peter Haden: Almost Forgotten featured a number of Haden’s bronzes from his golden period (1968–71), when he was associated with dealer Egon Guenther. Publishing is an important aspect of art-historical scholarship. Strauss & Co published detailed colour catalogues for both A Meeting of Minds and Peter Haden: Almost Forgotten. Creative strategies to foster a vibrant art community Images: Top: A Meeting of Minds: Louis Maqhubela and Douglas Portway , RMB Turbine Art Fair 2019, Johannesburg Bottom: Peter Haden (1939-1997): Almost Forgotten , Strauss & Co, Johannesburg 36