Set in Stone, the multi-media exhibition by Joe Turpin at the South African Jewish Museum is a fascinating re-examination of his and his family’s roots and journey over the past hundred years, as he explains on the Sanlam Arts Round Up. And is this exhibition really ‘Set in Stone’?
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Joe explains that his journey began 2 years ago when he was studying fine art in New York. He heard about a time capsule that had been discovered when the building that had housed the Rustenburg Hebrew Community, in the North West Province of South Africa, was finally sold in 2022. This was a congregation founded by his great grandfather and his brothers, and the synagogue that his mother had attended as a young child.
Reviewing the time capsule he came across themes and movements over that period in South Africa and the world. It was the time of colonialism, apartheid, the holocaust, the end of apartheid and then moving into his own lifetime. What are the issues that are relevant and current – particularly in the challenging times right now. He speaks about ‘my positionality’ – taking into account that he was born and raised in Johannesburg by a family that came from Rustenburg. It reflects on urbanisation and white flight – what does that mean for him personally in post colonial South Africa as an artist, a white person and Jewish.
How does this all reflect in this multi-disciplinary exhibition? His passion is painting, but in some instances the situation called for him to move into other media such as sculpture, installations and words. Joe explains that this relates back to the question of the title of the exhibition. When planning the exhibition with the Museum Curator, he responded that nothing was set in stone – and that was adopted as the title for the show.
Joe concludes by explaining the performance art work that was recorded on the first day of the exhibition. This relates to the mourning ritual of ‘sitting shiva’ for 7 days when a family member passes on. That day he performed for 7 hours in the exhibition space – an hour for each day – and the video recording is now a part of Set in Stone.
This is an intriguing and visually rich exhibition that is highly relevant in re-examining critical issues that are facing us today. This focus is also reflected in the Lady Skollie exhibition titled Groot Gat that opened this week at the Norval Foundation. This is again interrogated by playwright Olwethu Ntanjana in ‘How to Train Your Thoughts’ – a thought provoking exploration of identity, assimilation and self-discovery that opens at Theatre Arts Observatory on 29 May. Next door, at the Iziko SA National Gallery, the exhibition Esther Mahlangu Then I Knew I Was Good at Painting A Retrospective reflects on her cultural journey through challenging times in South Africa.
Set in Stone by Joe Turpin at the South African Jewish Museum is another tribute to the visual and performing arts in Cape Town and certainly worth the visit.Â
WHAT: Joe Turpin – Set In Stone
WHERE: The South African Jewish Museum, 88 Hatfield Street, Gardens, Cape Town 8001
WHEN:Â Opening Wednesday, 15 May 2024 | RSVP: EÂ rsvp.ct@southernguild.com
INFO: T 021 465 1546 | E info@sajewishMuseum.co.za | VISIT | see also Joe Turpin – Set In Stone at SA Jewish MuseumÂ
South African Jewish Museum [19]
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