Art: Thrilling to attend The Investec Cape Town Art Fair 2022

Art: Thrilling to attend The Investec Cape Town Art Fair 2022 at the CTICC –Cape Town International Convention Centre – Friday February 18 to Sunday February 20, 2022

Tonight, February 17 2022 and it was thrilling to attend the vernissage at The Investec Cape Town Art Fair. The vernissage is the preview/VIP – by invite only evening. In February 2020, the art fair was one of the last live events that I attended, before lockdown. For the 2021 edition, the fair went online. In 2022 and the physical event has returned (whoohoo) and there is a digital platform which may be accessed, at no charge. I cannot describe how exciting it was to be back at this epic fair. Everything was well organised – with a POV (proof of vaccine) line, moving quickly. The art is beautifully displayed. In 2020, there seemed to be more video and digital work and for 2022, it seems that art as material object has returned – painting, drawing and stuff – as one art fundi once quipped. Perhaps in lockdown, artists have gravitated to making work which may be touched and which occupies physical space and is not a screen which can be switched off. Interesting work from the African continent and all round, a palpable sense of excitement. May I just say – the clothes and shoes – fabulous shoes – stilettos, designer sneakers; shoes which are so ugly that they are magnificent; statement shoes. Lots of long maxi dresses. And the nails- Pantone’s 2022 Very Peri was everywhere (it is a bluish purple). One woman had her toenails painted in gold. It looked like gold leaf. She had on a pleated skirt in ultramarine blue. The ensemble reminded me of a Giotto fresco and Byzantine art – where blue and gold was used extensively – and imbued with symbolism. The visitors at the fair were works of art in their own right. This is a quickie alert: Get to the #ICTAF2022 – open until Sunday [Feb 20]. Don’t forget your POV. Bravo to Investec for making the live event happen, in the time of Covid, year three, with lockdown regulations still in place. It takes grit to host an event of this scope, during these days when things can change in a flutter of the pop-up of a new variant. A fabulous evening in beautiful Cape Town. Here is to a successful fair – with loadsf of sales for the artists and galleries. For more about #ICTAF2022 on TheCapeRobyn, see: https://thecaperobyn.co.za/art-fair-cape-town-art-fair-is-back-at-the-cticc-february-18-20-2022-and-will-have-a-digital-platform/