Arts Round Up: Curator Andrew Lamprecht – Irma Stern’s Arab Priest Returns to IZIKO SANG

by Philip | Sep 25, 2026 | Featured | 0 comments

Modernism and its Discontents:1925-2025: South African Art

On the Arts Round Up on Fine Music Radio, IZIKO Curator, Andrew Lamprecht, walks us through the newly opened exhibition “Modernism and its Discontents” with it’s focus on Arab Priest painted by Irma Stern in 1945.

Listen to the Arts Round Up on Fine Music Radio FMR 101.3fm on Fridays at 12:45

Andrew Lamprecht is the Curator of Historical Paintings and Sculpture covering covering pre-1950 artworks and sculpture at the South African National Gallery and the Michaelis Collection of the Old Town House. He begins by telling us about the Araba Priest by Irma Stern. Modernism and its Discontents

Qatar Museum Authorities bought Irma Stern’s Arab Priest at an auction at Bonhams 10 years ago, and initially the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) refused to give an export permit for the painting to leave South Africa. An agreement was come to by the South African and Qatari Governments that it could leave on the basis that it was returned to this country every 5 years, It was delayed a little this time because of COVID and the war in the East, But now the Arab Priest is back and at he South African National Gallery.

Arab Prince, Irma Stern,

Around the Arab Prince, they have created an exhibition of over 70 works by South African artists, from their own collection – nothing has been borrowed from other collections. The work s all speak to the issue of modernism, and the Arab Priest is often considered to be a high-point of South African modernism. Irma Stern was well known as a modernist artist, but it’s a contested and complicated term in South Africa. Often artists of colour were not included in this category.. What they have done for this exhibition is bring out very important paintings from their collections. It’s become literally a school text book of the big names and famous artists – not all , but many of them.

The title of the exhibition “Modernism and its Discontents” – it’s as if modernism has a flea in its ear – it’s not having its way. In 1945, when the Arab Priest was painted, the Director of the SANG, Edward Roworth, was vehemently against modernism. Roworth wanted pastoral scenes lovely, lush gardens and would not have the painting in the gallery.

Have we matured? You will have to come to the exhibition to decide. The question is – are we modern> Have we ever been modern? Do we want to be modern?

There will be a programme of walkabouts and events. So check out the IZIKO Museums website. Andrew also mentions that the Arab Prince arrived from the University of Pretoria, which also had a programme of events, but in Cape Town it’s broader in terms of modernism in South Africa.

Two other exhibitions at IZIKO, that Andrew draws our attention to, are Materiality, curated by Andrea Lewis at at the SANG and Reflections at he Old Town House. Lots of reasons for visiting the IZIKO Museums , including the South African Museum which turned 200 years old in 2025! And to find your way to all the IZIKO Museums, you can follow the Museum Route on the Art Craft + Museums Map or go to mapmyway.co.za.

NEWS FLASH! Irma Stern: Looking closer to home, the second exhibition in a four-part series dedicated to the life and work of celebrated South African artist Irma Stern (1894 – 1966), opens at the Norval Foundation on 2 October 2026. Watch this space for more information.

WHAT: The Arab Priest – Modernism and its Discontents
WHERE: IZIKO South African National Gallery, Government Avenue, Company’s Gardens, Cape Town 8001
WHEN: Open from 24 September 2026
INFO: VISIT | see also Irma Stern Masterpiece ‘Arab Priest’ Back in Mother City @IZIKO SA National Gallery!

IZIKO SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL GALLERY [A]