David Koloane

Goodman Gallery, London
Acquired from the above by the present owner in 2013

London, Saatchi Gallery, Pangaea: New Art from Africa and Latin America, 2014, illustrated in the catalogue p. 60

The work is stretched but unframed. The canvas appears to be unlined. There are paintbrush hairs scattered throughout the work, which appear to be the artist's intent. Inspection under ultra violet light reveals no signs of retouching or repair. Overall, the work appears to be in good original condition.
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The exploration of inner city life in the bustling city of Johannesburg during the apartheid era is central to David Koloane’s artistic practice. The artist firmly believes that apartheid could be characterized by the seizure of the ability to control one’s own physical space. Much of this was due to the many legislative roadblocks implemented by the South African government, which displaced people from their homes and restricted their movements within cities. Koloane saw his work during this period as a means by which to reclaim ownership of one’s space and the ability to freely move from place to place.

Born in 1938 in Johannesburg, the artist continues to live and work in the city, drawing inspiration from the cityscape around him. Known for depictions of larger groups of people, usually buzzing township life or chaotic commuters moving about the city, Koloane's work strikes a balance between being at once a representation of the harsh realities of apartheid but also a celebration of the collective human spirit.

This present lot is a perfect example of an expressionist work by Koloane. The artist uses bright colours and several short brush strokes to suggest the presence of a large and energetic crowd. Upon closer inspection, several abstracted figural shapes can be discerned amidst the mass of people as they make their way to their final destination. The geometric shapes rising above the crowd allude to the urban jungle of Johannesburg. Koloane’s gestural and lively brushstrokes echo the artist’s emotional reaction to the unfair treatment of the black inhabitants of Johannesburg during apartheid.