BUSINESS ART

Business Art STEPHAN WELZ & CO.

www.swelco.co.za

2022 has been an outstanding year for the South African art market and Stephan Welz & Co. is proud of the staggering results we have achieved during the course of the year. Our specialists have dedicated their time to creating an amalgamation of blue chip and contemporary artists, while simultaneously sustaining the lineage of prominent art associated with the Stephan Welz & Co. name. Although there has been some phenomenal art on offer, our specialists do have a few mentionable favorites.

Alexia Ferreira – Art Specialist, Johannesburg It’s difficult to pick a favourite artwork because we get first-hand exposure to so many interesting artworks. Typically, I would lean towards a Norman Catherine or Diane Victor out of personal preference (some could say bias), but if I had to put personal preference aside, I have developed a new-found interest in Cecil Skotnes. While I wouldn’t add a Skotnes to my personal collection, I can concur that there is a visual intrigue and sense of gravitas in his works, particularly in his larger panels. I’ve grown to appreciate Skotnes’ artistic journey and his contribution to the history and development of South African art.

What is interesting is that Skotnes initially began his career as a painter, often painting landscapes, but was persuaded by his friend and art collector, Egon Guenther, to pursue printmaking instead. Skotnes gave up painting and began carving a unique artistic identity in wood. Skotnes’ earliest woodcuts were of landscapes and alluded to land, horizon, and sky as horizontally oriented shapes and forms, but as visual explorations became abstracted shapes on the surface. During the 1960s Skotnes expanded on the potential of the woodcut as a medium, focusing on the possibilities of the wood block functioning as an artwork in its own right. The Assassination of Shaka portfolio exposed his artistic skills as a woodcut authority and artist.

His recognition that the woodblocks also represented sculptural works led to the production of larger incised panels. The panels that were offered on our November auction are a superior example and represent a painted version of his creative play and spatial tension. The palette of ochres, reds and browns used to stain the wood create a sense of warmth and are reminiscent not only of African tribal art but also the hues of the African bushveld. The larger-than-life figures loom over the viewer, rendering a sense of gravitas. The ambiguity present in Skotnes’ panels compels the viewer to contemplate the complexity of the human dilemma.

Robyn Woolley – Junior Art Specialist, Johannesburg Throughout the year we have come across several of Lionel Smit’s works however, I have particularly enjoyed the mix of earlier and later works we have received during our multiple auctions. Smit is a multidisciplinary artist who has been revered for his large-scale portraits and sculptures. Nowadays, his work acts as a dialogue between the mediums of painting and sculpture. However, what is intriguing about some of Smit’s earlier works is the intricate small-scale portraits which foreshadow the artistic and conceptual process of later works in his career. He often uses Cape Malayan woman as his subject matter, as he believes they truly represent the notion of fragmented identities and in his earlier works one can see Smit’s struggle to find a subject matter which evokes a sense of conceptual conviction. Another interesting element of Smit’s earlier works is the inclusion of naturalistic elements such as water or clouds which denote a sense of movement, and given the smaller scale of the pieces, this is rather visually effective. This element of movement is present in his later large-scale portraits, and I believe this experimentation led to the autonomous feel of his subject matters.

Although Smit’s earlier works differ in many aspects to the works we now associate with him, there is clearly an evident stream of consciousness regarding his thematical and conceptual objective. When comparing both stages of his works it becomes apparent where Smit’s artistic intent was at the time and how he was intending to develop it. Amy Carrington – Art Specialist, Cape Town This year has been an exciting one! The art department has gained some momentum in the last few months, with some very encouraging sell-through rates and hammer prices. I am confident that we will continue to witness this upward trajectory. While we are lucky enough to handle many individual pieces by some of South Africa’s most revered artists, it is always exciting when we come across a large private collection that encompasses artworks that span multiple eras, movements, mediums and turbulent historical moments. I was fortunate enough to handle a private collection that included works by Ephraim Ngatane, Walter Battiss, Neil Rodger and Pranas Domšaitis, to name just a few. These works spent many years on the wall of the owner’s home and were appreciated every day, which in turn presented a portfolio of pieces that were equal parts investment savvy and aesthetically pleasing. This also meant that the works were beautifully preserved and presented by the owner, and I feel that this care translated to our clients who came to view the works at our showroom and peaked interest among our clientele.

Another personal highlight has been further developing our relationships with loyal collectors who have been unwavering in their support of the company throughout Covid19 and the subsequent changes in the auction world. It has also been extremely rewarding to see an increase in new collectors that are entering the market and represent a new generation of buyers. It has been a joy to assist these collectors, with some just wanting to dip their toes in the water, and others wanting to make meaningful investment purchases. We have been able to find pieces that suit different needs and budgets, while getting to share a love for art with a whole new pool of enthusiastic collectors.

Adam Heald – Junior Art Specialist, Cape Town Stephan Welz & Co. has opened the door to many new buyers and collectors, who are excited by the prospects of investing in a stable art collection. Often the process of buying investment pieces can be a daunting experience. The most common question asked is “where does one begin?”

Tinus de Jongh, Jonkershoek Eersterivier Stellenbosch, Estimate R1 000 – 2 000

I have enjoyed interacting with the multiple works on paper we have offered on auction throughout this year. Prints can be seen as an affordable entry point into the secondary market. Works on paper are intriguing as they contain multitudes and allow the buyer the opportunity to learn about the different aspects of an artist’s career on both the primary and secondary market. Etchings by Tinus de Jongh, woodblock prints by Cecil Skotnes and even linocuts from JH Pierneef are all accessible ways of learning about the canonical history of South African art. Throughout 2022 we have auctioned off a variety of prints and have come across many collectors and collections with intriguing works on paper.

Throughout 2022 we have auctioned multiple Mongezi Ncaphayi prints. Ncaphayi is a prominent contemporary South African artist, who has a strong presence on the secondary market. We have found that many collectors have taken an interest in the nuance of his work. Other notable artists who collectors show an interest in on the secondary market would be Sam Nhlengethwa and Blessing Ngobeni, who are represented by some significant galleries in South Africa.

This year I have found exploring the zeitgeist of works on paper an intriguing exercise and I look forward to engaging with more prominent pieces.

As this year draws to a close, we encourage collectors to mark their diaries for the Stephan Welz & Co. February Premium Auction, which will kick-start our 2023 auction calendar. We are actively consigning for this sale and welcome consignment enquiries at ct@swelco.co.za and 021 794 6461.