One-Night Event: ‘The Big Hole’ at the Kimberley Hotel held on 11 August 2010
One-Night Event: ‘The Big Hole’ at the Kimberley Hotel Curated by Catherine Ocholla Mavericks, provocateurs and household names in the contemporary South African artscape took over one of Cape Town’s most historical watering holes, the Kimberley Hotel, on Wednesday the 11th of August, in a madcap art exhibition, party and cultural response to the local of many of Cape Town’s most creative individuals. ‘The Big Hole’ provided an opportunity for artists to investigate the sometimes murky legends circulating around the Kimberley, as well as some of the various South African histories ingrained in the site. David Southwood, for example, showed some of his original raunchy photographs from the days when the Kimberley was a brothel. Other artists, such as Ed Young, deal with its current incarnation as a multi-purpose recreational facility by ‘playing’ with the slot machines at the back of the bar. Visitors to ‘The Big Hole’ were able to see a number of site-specific interventions, including works by Belinda Blignaut, Stuart Bird, Suzy Bell, and Art Heat’s Robert Sloon. Revelers also took part in performative interventions that relied on the audience’s partying spirit, such as works by Andrew Lamprecht & James Hoets, Linda Stupart and Wayne Barker, who shot glamour photographs of willing victims in a specially constructed studio on the night of the exhibition (participants were encouraged to bring a prop along for this intervention). There were also video and traditional media responses, including works by Pieter Hugo, Jake Aikman, David Scadden and Henk Serfontein, and an upstairs open studio featuring the VVIPs William Kentridge and Marlene Dumas, and a host of other artists. The studio will be home to ‘The Red Dot Sale’ which will take place each Saturday until the 28th of August. Over 30 artists are involved in the event, many of them reflecting on the time that they have spent at the Kimberley over the years. In doing so, they provided not only a night to remember, but also an enduring legacy and affectionate tribute to this ‘grand lady’ of Roeland Street from those who love her most. The Big Hole: Wednesday, 11th August, 18:00 onwards. The Red Dot Sale: 14th, 21st and 28th August, 10:00 – 17:00, or by appointment Kimberley Hotel T. 021 461 2160 Corner Roeland and Buitenkant Streets, Cape Town catherineocholla@gmail.com
Two sober women in the process of discovering meaning at Jake Aikman’s painting of Ed Young and Blackman
Big Hole spectators ascending the dizzy heights of the Kimberly Hotel that used to be the main departure point by coach to Kimberly, as well as a brothel.
A happy nameless couple on arts night (Sorry the PR Person didn’t ask these peoples names)
Part of Red Dot Sale Kisty Cockrell as the gallerist playing the part of “the galeriest� as part Cathy performance piece : The Red dot sale
Two unknown artists, who apparently know each other now
Staurt Bird, and friend
Ed Young on a slot machine residency with Matthew Blackman
Suzy Bell and friend
Jonathan Garnham showing his usual hair envy
Kirsty Cockrell with friend