TURBINE ART FAIR 2022,

Writer: Bridget Masinga

With South Africa fully open for exploration, TAF 2022 headed underground and provided much needed time to wander the lanes of the underground parking turned gallery for the weekend. The 2022 venue perfectly embodied the theme for the year’s fair which was, Fresh. Bold. Edgy.

Galleries, artists and curators from around the country converged at Oxford Parks to engage in the business of art appreciation.

On a more personal note, this year’s highlight was the discovery of UCT’s MICHAELIS SCHOOL OF FINE ART recent graduate, Cassian Robbertze who exhibited as part of the TAF 2022 Grad Show.
His series of nine miniature sculptures in resin were the truest definition of, “Fresh. Bold. Edgy.” In his own words Cassian told me, “The pieces were a response to lockdown and online learning.”

A final year student in fine art during the height of South Africa’s two-year long lockdown meant that for the majority of time Cassian was restricted to learning a very practical degree whilst confined to his home space. At some point campuses around the country we closed, with students having no access to studio facilities.
The young UCT graduate found ways to utilize technology in order to still create, and from it came the series of miniatures titled, “Digital Hellscape.”

Using finite resources available to him, digital provided Cassian with an opportunity to use technology as a tool of creation. “I found there was infinite digital space for me to create it. Each person is in their own digital hell, behind a screen trying to communicate to everyone else through technology something that’s so obviously in front of them but finding it difficult to articulate to others.”

When you examine his tiny figures, you quickly realise the amount of precision and detail in every piece. Immaculately crafted as nine tiny figures conveying the most intricate of physical movement, and yet managing to get across emotions of frustration, apprehension, anger, anxiety and every emotion experienced when one is restricted to a confined space and longing to break free. “Dynamic sculpture for me is when sculpture comes alive. When you look at a sculpture and you see what it could do next, that for me is what is most interesting about the form”

Cassian Robbertze’s ability to articulate his process and his concept only made his work that much more enjoyable. A name I shall be keeping a keen eye on. And yes, the miniature certainly found their way to a new home. Where I am sure they shall be cause for endless conversations…

-BM