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Survey
2018
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CONTENTS 6–7 9
Specialists & Staff Auctions in 2019
10
Managing Director’s Report
12
Artist’s Resale Rights
13
Bidvest Bank Art Finance Plan
14
The Art Market in 2018
17
Aspire in Breakthrough Year
18 – 31
Aspire Auction Highlights and Records
32 – 67
Aspire 2018 in View
68
Join the Mailing List
Left | William Kentridge & Gerhard Marx Fire Walker Contents of Deodar House Auction Sold for R3 978 800 Cover | Alexis Preller, Adam (detail) Spring 18 Auction Sold for R9 104 000
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Specialists & Team
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Ruarc Peffers Managing Director & Senior Art Specialist JOHANNESBURG ruarc@aspireart.net +27 84 444 8004
Mary-Jane Darroll Director & Senior Art Specialist JOHANNESBURG mj@aspireart.net +27 82 567 1925
Emma Bedford Director & Senior Art Specialist CAPE TOWN emma@aspireart.net +27 83 391 7235
Jacqui Carney Art Specialist JOHANNESBURG jacqui@aspireart.net +27 71 675 2991
Marelize Van Zyl Art Specialist CAPE TOWN marelize@aspireart.net +27 83 283 7427
Kathryn Del Boccio Art Specialist & Client Advisory JOHANNESBURG kathryn@aspireart.net +27 79 791 6037
James Sey Media & Marketing Manager JOHANNESBURG james@aspireart.net +27 82 330 3763
Joshua Stanley Cataloguer CAPE TOWN joshua@aspireart.net +27 76 647 8560
Lisa Truter Cataloguer CAPE TOWN lisa@aspireart.net +27 82 568 6685
Wendy Tyson Client & Office Administrator JOHANNESBURG wendy@aspireart.net +27 62 956 3881
Louise Prinsloo Financial Officer JOHANNESBURG accounts@aspireart.net +27 11 243 5243
Phiwokwakhe Tshona Logistics Coordinator CAPE TOWN phiwokwakhe@aspireart.net +27 21 418 0765
Themba Ndzipho Store Keeper JOHANNESBURG
Ravélle Pillay Intern JOHANNESBURG ravelle@aspireart.net
Tlotlo Lobelo Intern JOHANNESBURG tlotlo@aspireart.net
JOHANNESBURG +27 11 243 5243 | enquiries@aspireart.net Illovo Edge, Building 3, Ground Floor, 7 Harries Road, Illovo, Sandton, 2196
CAPE TOWN +27 21 418 0765 | ct@aspireart.net New Media House, Second Floor, 19 Bree Street, CBD, 8001
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Live Auctions in 2019 AUTUMN 19 3 March | Cape Town Consignments close 18 January
WINTER 19 2 June | Johannesburg Consignments close 19 April
SPRING 19 1 September | Cape Town Consignments close 19 July
SUMMER 19 3 November | Johannesburg Consignments close 13 September
Timed Online Auctions in 2019 TIMED ONLINE 1:19 13 to 20 February Consignments close 25 January
TIMED ONLINE 2:19 10 to 17 April Consignments close 22 March
TIMED ONLINE 3:19 24 to 31 July Consignments close 5 July
TIMED ONLINE 4:19 27 November to 4 December Consignments close 8 November
Left | Athi-Patra Ruga, Night of the Long Knives III (detail) Summer 18 Auction Sold for R295 568
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9
Change IN THE
Market
A word from Ruarc Peffers, Managing Director
2018 was the year in which we at Aspire definitively announced ourselves as a significant presence in the South African fine art auction market with the records we achieved. Our inception in 2016 has played a role in the growth of the whole market, and our subsequent emergence as an established industry player has brought much-needed competition and professionalism to the sector. The year saw South Africa presented with macroeconomic challenges – in particular the consecutive quarters of negative GDP growth impacting on investment potential in all sectors. These constraints look much less onerous for the new year, with recently improved fiscal and political stability in South Africa being reflected in a steadying currency. In art market terms there has been some volatility in the contemporary segment internationally, with recent drops in volumes of works sold offset by increased prices for individual works. South Africa tends to follow the sales curve of the major international markets at a distance, indicating that the segment locally is still in a strong growth phase. One shouldn’t forget that despite vicissitudes in different segments, total sales figures for Sotheby’s, Christie’s and Phillips topped $2bn this year. Overall, collectors in the South African market are well positioned in the balance between supply of works and the prices being achieved. We’re proud to have developed a dedicated network of sellers and buyers who do business with us, one that is growing organically in different areas of the market to our competitors. One key differentiator that we have is the ability and expertise to deal with the traditional high-end portion of the market, with its highly valuable and collectable signatures, but we also have the agility and flexibility to deal comfortably with the contemporary segment, to understand market trends and respond to them. This specialised ability across the market has been reflected this year in the spectacular sales records we have achieved, which are discussed in detail in this document. Aspire’s strategy for 2019 remains consistent. We always look to collaborate with like-minded people and institutions in the art world – the art auction industry, especially in Africa, is becoming increasingly internationalised, and we will be part of that process. However, we will always maintain our origins and professionalism, and our ethical approach to business, clients and artists. We remain committed to sustaining our communities through the Artist’s Resale Rights initiative and others. We will continue to be agile and flexible, disruptive and innovative, and lead the market in our chosen segments….and continue to break records.
Right | William Kentridge, Drawing from Stereoscope (Double page, Soho in two rooms) (detail) Spring 18 Auction Sold for R6 600 400
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Aspire
PIONEERS
Artist’s Resale Rights Committed to the growth and development of the African art market, we are the first and, to date, only auction house in South African history to pay living South African artists royalties on the resale of their works of art on auction. With little opportunity for funding in the arts, the profound social inequalities of South Africa seem particularly magnified in the sector. In the absence of legislation or a government mandated collecting agency, we voluntarily cover the cost of the ARR percentage fee. To date we have paid out to over 90 living South African artists, in excess of R400 000. Aspire has lobbied extensively on behalf of the ARR scheme, with James Sey having presented to the World Intellectual Property Organisation in Geneva, to DALRO in Johannesburg, and to an artists’ collective in Soweto, to raise awareness and campaign for changes to the existing South African legislation, and we had Emma Bedford lobbying in parliament.
BASA Award We are proud to have been presented with the Business and Arts SA (BASA) Award in the Strategic Project category in 2018 for our pioneering Artist’s Resale Rights (ARR) initiative. The 21st annual BASA awards ceremony took place on Sunday, 16 September at Victoria Yards in Johannesburg. We’d like to thank BASA for this recognition and acknowledgement and accept the award on behalf of all the artists who make this endeavour a worthwhile reality.
Ruarc Peffers & Jacqui Carney receiving the BASA Award
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Aspire &
Bidvest Bank We have partnered with Bidvest Bank this year to bring an exciting new finance product to the art market, to assist art collectors with financing for their purchases. While not a conventional asset class, there is increasing confidence in art as a competitive form of investment and an alternative to traditional financial assets in recent years. Over the last 20 years, the art market has prodigiously increased in liquidity and has grown to now be widely appreciated as a genuinely efficient market, with annual global growth around 36%. It is therefore no surprise that we, as an auction house committed to innovation and business agility, should want to partner with a like-minded bank to bring an art-specific financial product to market. The Bidvest Bank Art Finance Plan is suitable for art collectors wanting to obtain funding for gallery purchases or to use their existing art as security. This product will allow a wider range of potential collectors access to funding to acquire the art their passion deserves. It is an ideal financial offering for the fine art auction market which sees art collectors bid on artworks at a wide range of prices, from a few thousand Rand to several millions. The terms of the finance product range from 3 month to two years, with flexible interest rates and a 24-hour turn around on approval for applications.
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The Art Market in 2018 Global auction turnover on fine art rose 18% in the half year to June 2018, totalling $8.45 billion. Market growth: o 48% increase in turnover in the USA, to $3.3 billion o $2 billion in turnover in China o Turnover up 18% in the UK to $1.9 billion Market resilience: rapid increase in the art-buying population from 500,000 collectors after 1945 to approximately 90 million in 2018. Major geographical expansion of the market to nearly all of Asia, the Pacific Rim, India, South Africa, the Middle-East and South America. More museums opened between 2000 and 2014 than in the previous two centuries – 700 per year. Globally, the average value of artworks is increasing 25% annually. The contemporary segment has averaged an 88% increase globally. An average annual yield of +9% on works above $20 000. South African contemporary art market growth: South African market is 13th out of top 20 countries by turnover value in the segment, ahead of countries like Switzerland, Denmark and India. South Africa’s total by revenue for contemporary art is just over $6m, or approximately R88m, for 1 494 lots in total. Total South African contemporary art market growth: 25%.
Aspire 2018 Auction Records World Record, October 2018: Alexis Preller, Adam (1972), R9 104 000. World Record (for a drawing), October 2018: William Kentridge, Drawing from Stereoscope (Double page, Soho in two rooms) (1999), R6 600 400. World Record, February 2018: Angus Taylor, Sit en Staan (2008), R2 159 920. World Record, June 2018: Peter Clarke, Lazy Day (1975), R1 479 400. World Record, February 2018: Willem Boshoff, Clast Mar (2009), R682 820. World Record, October 2018: Georgina Gratrix, I Love You All the Time (2011), R591 760. World Record, June 2018: Zander Blom, Untitled 1.5 (2010), R386 920. South African Record, October 2018: Pieter Hugo, Hyena Men of Abuja (2005), R375 540. World Record, October 2018: Mohau Modisakeng, Ditaola XV (2014), R261 740. South African Record, June 2018: Andrzej Urbanski, A0037 47/47/16 (2016), R125 180. 14
For all art market info, courtesy ArtPrice: www.artprice.com
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Peter Clarke, Lazy Day (detail) Spring 18 Auction Sold for R1 479 400
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Aspire
Breakthrough Year IN
2018 proved a momentous year for the South African fine art auction market, and for us at Aspire Art Auctions in particular. The year proved challenging economically for the entire industry, with a volatile currency and a technical recession leading to a lack of liquidity in the art market. In addition, the damage to the local stock market resulting from the collapse of the Steinhoff retail empire in late 2017, meant that high-end investors who are also art collectors were much more cautious. Despite the challenges, we found support with our dedicated client community, and succeeded in expanding our base considerably in the year to include many newer and younger collectors. This is in line with our business strategy of targeting the development of a new art collecting demographic, in addition to established high-end fine art collectors. In sales terms, we hosted four live auctions and a total of six online auctions, which saw the setting of many world record prices, especially in the contemporary art segment. Our ability to continue to offer significant works by the best signatures in South African art was decisively proven in 2018 by our sales successes with Alexis Preller, Irma Stern and William Kentridge in particular. What is equally significant is the way in which we further developed the market for 20th century South African masters like Sydney Kumalo and Edoardo Villa. Our performance in the fast-growing contemporary art segment, which grew by 25% in total in South Africa in the last year, was definitive in 2018. There can be no doubt that our knowledge and sales expertise in the field has added value to many of the country’s most prominent current artists.
Left | Edoardo Villa, Sculpture VIII Spring 18 Auction Sold for R1 138 000
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Highlights & Auction Records in 2018 Contents of Deodar House, Johannesburg
Irma Stern
John Meyer
Hydrangeas and St Joseph lilies in the artist’s hand-made ceramic jug Sold for R4 774 560
Marsh Lilies Sold for R500 192
Edoardo Villa Maquette for Durban Art Gallery Sold for R215 992 18
William Kentridge & Gerhard Marx Fire Walker Sold for R3 978 800
Willem Boshoff Clast Mar (from the Children of the Stars series) Sold for R682 080 World Record for the artist
Angus Taylor Sit en Staan (Sit and Stand) Sold for R2 159 920 World Record for the artist Return to contents
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SUMMER 18 Auction, Cape Town
Alexis Preller Gold Angel (Arêté) Sold for R4 547 200
Peter Clarke Bowl of Fruit on Table Sold for R341 040 20
Athi-Patra Ruga Night of the Long Knives III Sold for R295 568 World Record for a photographic work by the artist
Claude Bouscharain Trocadero Fountains, Paris Sold for R159 152
Robert Hodgins Night of the Awards, triptych Sold for R2 046 240 Return to contents
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Sydney Kumalo Leopard Sold for R545 664
Alexis Preller Still-life with Vase and Carved Head Sold for R795 760
Deborah Bell Sentinel VI Sold for R909 440 World record for the artist 22
Wim Botha Prism 1 Sold for R454 720
Wim Botha Prism 2 Sold for R341 040
Zander Blom Untitled 1.96 Sold for R170 520 Return to contents
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WINTER 18 Auction, Johannesburg
Irma Stern Still life with magnolias, apples and bowl Sold for R6 828 000
Irma Stern Still life with chrysanthemums in the artist’s handmade ceramic jug Sold for R3 414 000 24
Cecil Skotnes The Legend of the Judean War Sold for R819 360
Gerard Sekoto Bustling street scene Sold for R569 000
Alexis Preller Celestial Twins Sold for R1 046 960 Return to contents
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Peter Clarke Lazy Day Sold for R1 479 400 World record for the artist
Peter Clarke Sunset at Windemere (Afrika Mayibuye) (sic) Sold for R432 440 26
Zander Blom Untitled 1.5 Sold for R386 920 World record for the artist
Edoardo Villa Sculpture VIII Sold for R1 138 000
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SPRING 18 Auction, Johannesburg
Alexis Preller Adam Sold for R9 104 000 World record for the artist
William Kentridge Drawing from Stereoscope (Double page, Soho in two rooms) Sold for R6 600 400 World record for a drawing by the artist 28
Penny Siopis Tapers Sold for R512 100
Georgina Gratrix I Love You All the Time Sold for R591 760 World record for the artist
William Kentridge Tiepolo outside Machadodorp and Tiepolo in Machadodorp, two Sold for R569 000 Return to contents
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Stanley Pinker The Last Waltz Sold for R1 251 800
Andy Warhol Mao Sold for R523 480 30
Mohau Modisakeng Ditaola XV Sold for R261 740 World record for the artist
Pieter Hugo Hyena Men of Abuja Sold for R375 540 South African record for the artist
David Brown Engine Driver (from the Deadly Sinners series) Sold for R273 120 World record for the artist Return to contents
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2018 in View Contents of Deodar House Illovo, Johannesburg 8 to 11 February Our first auction of the year was held on 11 February 2018. The Contents of Deodar House auction comprised over 100 lots of selective fine and decorative arts, antique and modern furniture, luxury jewellery, watches, and wine. In an exceptional act of generosity the entire seller’s proceeds were donated to seed fund a new children’s leukemia charity. We achieved a phenomenal sell-through rate of 82%, well above the industry average. The top seller was a sumptuous still life by Irma Stern, Hydrangeas and St Joseph lilies in the artist’s hand-made ceramic jug, which sold for R4 774 560, above its high estimate. The sale of the fine art lots on the Deodar sale was dominated by an exceptional collection of large outdoor sculpture. Among these, a highly coveted work by William Kentridge and Gerhard Marx, Fire Walker (2010), an editioned, smaller version of the famous public sculpture in downtown Johannesburg, achieved a price of R3 978 800. The sale also achieved world records for well-known South African contemporary artists Angus Taylor and Willem Boshoff, whose works Sit en Staan (2008) and Clast Mar (2009), respectively, attained top prices of R2 159 920 and R682 820. The associated Deodar House online auction, comprising various house contents and collectables, had the rare distinction of being a ‘white glove’ sale, with 100% of lots sold.
Right & Above | Views of Deodar House and garden
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Lisa Truter, Marelize van Zyl, Emma Bedford, Jacqui Carney and Wendy Tyson at Twelve Apostles Hotel
Jewellery viewing & lunch in Cape Town, Twelve Apostles Hotel
Jewellery display, Deodar House 34
Artist walkabouts with Willem Boshoff, Angus Taylor & Gerhard Marx
Views of Deodar House
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Connoisseurship & Collecting Collectors Paradise: Champagne Brunch, Cape Town 18 February We were honoured to have been invited to celebrate the first of our ‘Connoisseurship and Collecting’ series at an award winning private home. Situated on the slopes of Table Mountain, and under a magnificent canopy of Umbrella Pines, the house is home to an impeccably curated and cared-for collection of art, and made for the perfect venue to enjoy a Sunday brunch accompanied by French bubbles, to end off a glorious Cape Summer. The select audience took a tour of the home and collection, after which Professor Pippa Skotnes discussed the powerful work of her late husband David Brown, whose sculptures are expertly displayed in the house and its surrounds. Aspire’s Emma Bedford then offered insight into the many works by Judith Mason which feature prominently throughout the collection.
Walkabout with Pippa Skotnes 36
Aspire at US Woordfees 2018 Stellenbosch University 2 to 11 March Our 2018 art festivals programme commenced with us conducting the Art and Wine Auction at the US Woordfees Bravo! Bal, which was hosted in the Stellenbosch Town Hall. Artworks donated by Anton Kannemeyer and Strijdom van der Merwe were auctioned alongside various five star wines and getaways, as well as an opportunity to dine with former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela in aid of the Ben de Haeck Bursary Fund for students studying performing and visual arts. As partners of US Woordfees, we were excited to launch our Kunskonteks/Art Context programme, which featured talks and discussions on the current state of the art market, art collecting and the various options of investing in art with representatives from the Sanlam Private Investments Art Advisory Service and the Scheryn Art Collection. In collaboration with the Rupert Art Museum, we also presented walkabouts. We look forward to returning to US Woordfees in 2019!
Above | Bravo! Bal; Marelize van Zyl opening Walter Battiss walkabout at Rupert Museum Below | Walkabout with Warren Siebrits; Prof Sandra Klopper talking about Irma Stern Return to contents
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Summer 18 Auction Cape Town 25 March Our second sale of the year was held in Cape Town, on 25 March. Headlining its success was a rare intaglio by Alexis Preller, Gold Angel (Arêté), which sold for R4 638 400. This outstanding piece was part of Preller’s last body of work shown at the Goodman Gallery in 1975. However, the sale was perhaps most notable for its concentration of top quality contemporary art, led by a magnificent oil painting by Robert Hodgins, Night of the Awards (1997/8), which fetched R2 087 280. We were consistently successful in selling work in the contemporary segment through the year, often at record prices. It was gratifying to see a strong performance for the work Night of the Long Knives III (2015), by cutting-edge South African star Athi-Patra Ruga. This indicates the growth and diversity of contemporary collecting trends as his photographic work fetched R295 568, well above its high estimate. Other contemporary artists in this category included Zander Blom, whose painting Untitled 1.96 (2011) went for R170 520, and the wellknown Penny Siopis, whose Help (2004/5) fetched R79 576, more than double its high estimate. A challenging painting by countercultural artist Conrad Botes, Origin (2011), went for R170 520, by some distance the best price ever achieved by the artist at auction.
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Alexis Preller, Gold Angel (Arêté) (detail) Summer 18 Auction Sold for R4 547 200
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Above | Telephone bidders, Summer 18 Auction Below | Auction viewing at Avenue, Cape Town
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Above | Lectures and Walkabouts with Karel Nel, Cape Town & Johannesburg Below | Auction viewing at Avenue, Cape Town
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Aspire at KKNK Oudtshoorn 28 February to 4 March The Aspire team debuted at the KKNK festival in Oudtshoorn in March this year. In an innovative move for an art auction house, Aspire set up an exhibition stand in the Prince Vincent building, which is dedicated to the visual arts component of the festival. We designed an entertaining programme of talks and film screenings to accompany our exhibition space, which showcased several works from our concurrent Timed Online auction. Our talks programme focused on the business of art, offering insights into collecting and the returns possible from a considered approach to buying art, and our screenings offered documentaries on the work of artists such as Maggie Laubser and Alexis Preller.
Above | Timed Online viewing at KKNK Below left | Public artworks walkabout with Dr Paul Bayliss (ABSA) Below right | Ruarc Peffers conducting a lecture: Collecting Art 42
Connoisseurship & Collecting In conversation at Love Books 14 May 2018 As part of the promotional push for our Timed Online book auction in May, our own James Sey joined well-known collector, curator and art dealer Warren Siebrits in a conversation about collecting art books. Books consigned from the Siebrits collection formed the basis of this very well supported online auction. Book lovers, collectors and dealers packed out the venue at Love Books bookshop in Melville, Johannesburg, to hear him discuss the nuances of collecting and attributing value to the books, and his passion for collecting.
Above | Warren Siebrits and James Sey in conversation about collecting books Below | Full house at Love Books in Melville
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Winter 18 Auction Johannesburg 17 June Our Winter sale in Johannesburg was in June. Here we made impressive statements, and set several more world records. The top lot by value was Irma Stern’s Still life with magnolias, apples and bowl (1949), which sold for R6 828 000. The world records on the sale began with the sale of Peter Clarke’s work Lazy Day (1975), for R1 479 400, a mark which also surpassed his previous auction record, achieved by us in 2016. Our continued strong showing in the contemporary segment delivered world records for Zander Blom Untitled 1.5 (2010), R386 920), Andrzej Urbanski (A0037 47/47/16 2016, R125 180), and Paul Stopforth’s Steve Biko’s Right Hand (1980), which sold for R79 660, an important record to have achieved for such a work in the context of post-apartheid South Africa. The significance of these records and prices achieved not only speaks to our established ability to sell successfully in the growing contemporary art segment at auction, but to marry this with the ability to sell significant works across the board. The range of works sold on this auction are testimony to our agility and flexibility. We sold a significant Irma Stern in the established high-end of the market for modern 20th century South African art; achieved a world record for Clarke, a previously under-represented artist whose current glowing reputation at auction we are helping to develop; and had successful sales for younger artists in Blom and Urbanski whose careers will therefore be boosted.
Maileshi Setti discussing the works by Irma Stern 44
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Irma Stern, Still life with magnolias, apples & bowl (detail) Winter 18 Auction Sold for R6 828 000
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Above | Installing Edoardo Villa, Sculpture VIII, at the Aspire Johannesburg office Middle | Ruarc Peffers preparing for the auction; Lecture, Art as Investment, at GIBS Below | Auction viewing; Aspire team at the cocktail party 46
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Aspire at Innibos Nelspruit 26 – 29 June As part of our programme of appearances at arts festivals around the country through 2018, we set up a presence at this year’s Innibos festival, the annual Lowveld arts event. Ruarc Peffers presented valuation days at the festival for collectors to bring in their works to be valued. This was complemented by a series of film screenings which attracted large audiences as the festival went on, eager to find out more about canonical artists such as Stern and Preller.
Ruarc Peffers & Johan Myburgh at the Aspire stand
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Aspire at National Arts Festival Grahamstown 27 June – 6 July The Aspire team collaborated with the Department of Fine Arts at Rhodes University during this year’s National Arts Festival in Makhanda in June and July. The postgraduate seminar room in the Fine Arts main building became Aspire’s base of operations, home to a programme of art talks and film screenings which included a riveting documentary on the life of exiled South African artist Dumile Feni. While we were based in Makhanda during the festival, the team also conducted art valuation days in the nearby towns of Bathurst and Port Alfred.
Above | Joshua Stanley, Lisa Truter and James Sey in Grahamstown Below left | Valuation day at the Pig & Whistle Inn, Bathurst Below right | Igshaan Adams’ solo booth as the Standard Bank Young Artist, Grahamstown Return to contents
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King David Rosabelle Klein Nursery School fundraiser Johannesburg 16 August A very busy August saw Aspire conduct one of several charity fundraising auctions over the year at our offices in Johannesburg. The Rosabelle Klein Nursery School in Waverley is the feeder for the King David schools in Johannesburg, and sought to raise funds for the school through a charity art auction. The event packed out our offices, and a riotously entertaining evening was capped by auctioneer Ruarc Peffers conducting a very successful auction of donated artworks.
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Connoisseurship & Collecting Art, Jazz, Whisky with Sam Nhlengethwa 21 August In our ‘Connoisseurship and Collecting’ series, we hosted an art, jazz and whisky evening in August. What brought the evening together was the work of artist and friend of Aspire, Sam Nhlengethwa. Sam’s love of jazz shines through in many of the subjects of his paintings and collages, and examples of his jazz works adorned our office walls as the backdrop to a convivial evening of music, art and whisky tasting, conducted by Simon Knutton, an expert in single malt whisky. The capacity crowd included many artists and new collectors, and all were treated to a unique experience.
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Introduction to the Javett Art Centre, University of Pretoria
Women’s brunch 7 September The imminent opening of the Javett Art Centre at the University of Pretoria next year is a significant step in the development of the culture of art museums in South Africa. The custom-designed centre on the campus of the University will feature a spacious gallery and will house the Javett Collection. Our close relationship with the centre resulted in us hosting two related events to publicise the forthcoming opening. A brunch function held at our offices in Johannesburg was themed around important women in the art world. The speakers at the event included our own Mary-Jane Darroll; Prof Cheryl de la Rey, the first female vice-chancellor of the University of Pretoria and the FNBJoburgArtFair artist for 2018, Billie Zangewa.
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Introduction to the Javett Art Centre, University of Pretoria
Cocktails & talk 8 September A related publicity event for the Javett Art Centre was held at our offices the next day. The invited audience was treated to a presentation by Director of the Centre, Christopher Till, which outlined the progress of the building development on the campus, and offered insight into the planning of the finished space. A networking cocktail party followed the presentation, at an event which included the presence of Brian Joffe and Michael Javett himself.
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Siyakhula Michaelis Art Auction Cape Town 17 October As Director of the University of Cape Town’s Michaelis School of Fine Art, and in the wake of the #FeesMustFall movement, Berni Searle conceptualised the Siyakhula Michaelis Art Auction as a means to raise funds for comprehensive scholarships to go to promising students from historically disadvantaged backgrounds and who are in financial need. Searle invited Emma Bedford to join the committee which was ably assisted by Lisa Truter and Joshua Stanley. The auction, conducted pro-bono by Aspire, was comprised of works donated by artists who are either alumni or associates of the university. In line with this community spirit, the name Siyakhula was given to the initiative, an isiXhosa word meaning ‘together we grow’. Before auctioneer Ruarc Peffers, a Michaelis alumnus, had knocked down the first lot, a very generous R1.8 million had already been donated to the cause by world renowned contemporary artist Marlene Dumas. At the close of both the live and online auctions, an additional total of R4 million had been raised. With many of our staff having studied at the institution, and as a company devoted to supporting the local art community, we were honoured to have been invited to partner with Michaelis on this ground-breaking initiative.
Jane Alexander, Assembly Sold for R65 000
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Simphiwe Ndzube, The Gravedigger VIII Sold for R190 000
Athi-Patra Ruga, Ilulwane #1 Sold for R70 000
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King David Victory Park Charity Auction Johannesburg 18 October A very busy October saw another charity auction at our Johannesburg offices, this one to raise funds for an online education resource hub at King David School in Victory Park. The event totally transformed our office space, with even our courtyard pressed into service under a seductively lit Bedouin tent. With the bulk of the various art works on the auction donated from our friends at Kalashnikovv Gallery, the sold-out evening raised considerable amounts for the school, and the boisterous proceedings were presided over by our MD and auctioneer Ruarc Peffers.
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Connoisseurship & Collecting Aspire x Fassler x Xayiya 20 October Aspire is known for its impeccably curated and innovative events which foreground culture and the art we sell, but even by our own high standards this event in October was exceptional. One of the most exclusive events of the Joburg social calendar saw an afternoon garden party lunch take place at the home of prominent art collector Mikki Xayiya and his trend-setting wife Nwabisa. But we didn’t stop there! On display in the garden were selected lots from our Spring 18 auction auction, as well as a bespoke fashion show by the doyenne of SA fashion, Marianne Fassler. The guest list was a who’s who of the art and fashion scenes, and the wildly successful party carried on into the night.
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Spring 18 Auction Johannesburg 28 October Johannesburg in October was the location of our vibrant Spring sale. Again, the world records tumbled. The top lot by value on the sale was a superb and vibrant Alexis Preller oil, Adam (1972) which fetched R9 104 000, a world record for the artist. This world record was joined by that achieved for a drawing by William Kentridge, of R6 600 400 for Drawing from Stereoscope (Double page, Soho in two rooms) (1999), significantly beating the previous mark, achieved in Paris. The successful strategic focus on the contemporary segment continued in this sale. Highlights included a new world record for Cape Town painter Georgina Gratrix, whose work I Love You All the Time (2011) sold for R591 760, beating the previous record by almost double, and further almost doubling its own high estimate. Another record was achieved in the segment when photographer Pieter Hugo’s famous 2005 work The hyena men of Abuja sold for a South African record of R375 540, almost three times its high estimate. Mohau Modisakeng saw considerable success with his Ditaola XV (2014), which sold for R261 740, a record, and beating the previous record of R204 624, also held by us. A contemporary sculpture by David Brown, from 2011, entitled Engine Driver from his Eleven Deadly Sinners series, sold for R273 120, a new world record for this artist, bettering the previous mark, also held by Aspire, indicating the depth of our expertise in the segment.
Spring 18 Auction viewing at GIBS 60
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Georgina Gratrix, I Love You All the Time (detail) Spring 18 Auction Sold for R591 760
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Top left | Lecture on William Kentridge by Michael Godby in Cape Town Middle and below | Auction viewing at GIBS 62
Cocktail party at GIBS Return to contents
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Timed Online Auctions in 2018 Contents of Deodar House Timed Online 5 – 12 February
The online component of our Contents of Deodar House auction comprised art, furniture, decorative arts, household goods and wine. After a week of competitive bidding by more than 200 bidders, the sale reached a 100% sell-through rate, making it the first white-glove online sale in South Africa! The top 10 lots by value each sold for at least three times their respective high estimates, and total revenue almost doubled the pre-sale high estimate. This was the first of our sales hosted on the Auction Mobility platform, as well as on the Aspire Art Auctions app. The app, available on both iOS and Android devices, is the first online auction app launched in the country.
Prints & Multiples 28 March – 4 April
With our second Timed Online auction of the year, we positioned ourselves as the pioneer of themed online auctions in South Africa. Hot on the heels of our Summer 18 live auction in Cape Town, the sale’s focus on prints and multiples presented collectors with the opportunity to buy quality art by some of South Africa’s most recognised artists, such as William Kentridge, Robert Hodgins and Peter Clarke, at significantly lower price points. Buying prints and multiples is a great place to start when looking to build a new collection – and affordable too. For seasoned collectors, prints can make meaningful additions to comprehensive collections, providing insight into the evolution of an artist’s oeuvre.
Books & Collectables 15 – 22 May
For the love of books! Our first book-focused Timed Online auction was centered on the collection of well-known book dealer and collector Warren Siebrits, who very generously gave his time to discuss the art of the book, as well as collecting editions, artist’s monographs and rare books. Book enthusiasts joined us in Love Books’ cosy Johannesburg space to hear Siebrits in conversation with our very own James Sey, whilst clients in the Cape heard Siebrits and Andrew Lamprecht discuss their shared passion for books. The sale indicated the demand for art and art-related books, specifically on local subjects, as it reached an 80% sell-through rate.
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An African hardwood side table
An Alessi coffee set by Michael Graves
Sold for R32 788
Sold for R7 026
Carl BĂźchner Harlequin Sold for R19 907
Peter Clarke
Walter Battiss
Cameron Platter
The Heat’s On Sold for R8 208
Figure Sold for R16 415
Figure in black Sold for R11 725
JH Pierneef Doringboom, TVL. Sold for R37 520
David Goldblatt In Boksburg Sold for R22 278
Walter Battiss South African Paint Pot Sold for R22 278
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Old & New Landscapes and Contemporary Art 26 June – 6 July
Our smallest Timed Online auction for 2018 also featured the greatest diversity of works. Comprised of 166 lots, the sale included prints and multiples, works on paper, paintings and sculpture by both local and international artists, spanning several decades. JH Pierneef’s Hardekoolboom N.T. from 1936 led the offering of older works, whilst Bling Boy by contemporary artist Georgina Gratrix, created almost 80-years after Pierneef’s print, was an exciting piece of something new.
Contemporary Art & Books 4 – 11 September
This Timed Online auction highlighted the significance of art books in relation to the artists and works on which they are centered. Pieces of contemporary South African art by the likes of Jane Alexander, David Goldblatt and Robert Hodgins were offered alongside many of the books which discuss the work of these artists. The value of art books is not just for the benefit of academics and galleries, but can act as doorways to new or more in-depth readings for all art admirers, collectors and critics, making for easy collecting at affordable price points.
Holidays! Art, Collectables & Books 20 – 27 November
With the festive season just around the corner, our sixth and final focused Timed Online sale for the year was centered on Holidays! Our biggest online auction to date, it included items of fine and decorative arts, glass and silverware, ceramics, various collectables, furniture and art books – suited for easy collecting and to gift during the holidays. We celebrated the end of another successful year, and welcomed the festive season by offering a reduced buyer’s commission of 10% for the sale. Clients were invited to join us in this celebration at both our Johannesburg and Cape Town offices, and to preview highlights from the Timed Online auction on display.
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Georgina Gratrix
MJ Lourens
JH Pierneef
Bling Boy Sold for R2 931
En-Route Highveld II Sold for R17 588
Hardekoolboom, N.T. Sold for R52 763
Lisa Brice
David Goldblatt
Bitterkomix
Chasing that High XVI Sold for R22 278
Carvings for sale on William Nicol Drive, Bryanston, 3 July 1999 Sold for R82 075
The Big Bad Bitterkomix Handbook Sold for R2 814
Robert Hodgins
Robert Hodgins
Hylton Nel
Office Redecoration Sold for R44 600
The Human Race Sold for R33 450
Ochre and yellow vase with two figures Sold for R7 805
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