The Art of Samuel Bak: A Retrospective is on view at the SA Jewish Museum and Wednesday Walk-abouts are an excellent way of engaging with and accessing this important body of work, with its particular, personal resonances. Curator Ute Ben Yosef is an informed and engaging guide to introduce you to this unique body of work.
Samuel Bak Walk-about audience
Samuel Bak, a world renowned artist, will for the first time, present a retrospective exhibition of his life’s work. “It will be our task to make his art known among the survivors of the Rwandan genocide, refugees from the African continent, and all those that have been affected by the horrors of racism, xenophobia and genocide”, explains Ute.
This exhibition is of great personal importance to Samuel Bak. The majority of the South African Jewish community are decedents of Lithuanian Jewry, including his direct relatives. The utter destruction of Lithuanian Jewry during the Holocaust has meant that the South African Jewish community are the closest remaining link Bak has to the community and culture of his childhood. This is why Bak has chosen the SA Jewish Museum as the venue of the first full retrospective of his entire artistic career. In a career of over fifty years, he has had numerous exhibitions in major museums, galleries, and universities throughout Europe, Israel, and the United States. For this exhibition he has personally selected the forty works on display, which include works from his personal collection which have never previously been exhibited.
Bak’s artwork reflects his experiences as a child during the war. His art explores the randomness of human destiny and the luck of chance that granted him life. Racism, intolerance, discrimination and genocide are the hidden subjects of Bak‘s paintings. He is a conceptual artist who uses visual metaphors, allegories and symbols to encompass these universal demons, as he searchers for a visual language with which to describe man’s inhumanity to man. These are pertinent and important themes given the history of our country and continent.
WHEN: The Art of Samuel Bak: A Retrospective will run until 28 February 2014
WHERE: South African Jewish Museum, 88 Hatfield Street, Cape Town 8001
WALK ABOUTS: 11.00 Wednesdays – please contact ahead of time and book to ensure space
CONTACT: Telephone: +21-465-1546Â Email: info@sajewishmuseum.co.za
ENTRY: Admission fee Adults    R 40  South African Pensioners    R 25   Students    R 25
Children under 16 years of age* Valid Identification Required    Free
The Museum caters for group tours by prior arrangement.
HOUR: Sun. to Thurs. Â Â Â 10.00am – 5.00pm; Fri. Â Â Â 10.00am – 2.00pm
Closed Saturdays and Jewish Holidays; Open Public Holidays
