By Millicent Kgowedi

Some of Africa’s most sought-after contemporary art will be on sale in Johannesburg for the first time at the Joburg Art Fair, to be held in March 2008.

The fair has been held in London, Chicago and Switzerland. Some 5 000m² of floor space at the Sandton Convention Centre will be covered in contemporary art from across Africa over the three day fair, running from 13 to 16 March.

While top African artists are celebrated and collected internationally, there has been little opportunity for locals to interact with their work. With this in mind, the art fair has been organised for buyers and members of the local and international art community to meet, discuss, appreciate and buy contemporary African art.

According to the publicists, Buzz Publicity, art fairs are about the business of art; they combine art and lifestyle, thereby appealing to an audience that might ordinarily shy away from the white cube gallery space.

The main sponsor of the Joburg Art Fair is First National Bank. Artlogic, the company organising the fair, was responsible for bringing William Kentridge’s critically acclaimed production of The Magic Flute to South Africa. It has now invited international galleries to represent top contemporary art from South Africa and the rest of Africa in Joburg.

International galleries that have confirmed their participation include the Jack Shainman Gallery from New York and the October Gallery from London. Local galleries participating in the fair include Art on Paper, Bell Roberts, Gallery Momo, Rooke Gallery, David Krut, Goodman Gallery, Joao Ferreira and Michael Stevenson.

The Joburg Art Fair will include a specially curated show by Simon Njami, the chief curator of the highly successful Africa Remix exhibition.

Among the artists on display will be Berry Bickle, Modou Dieng, Bill Kouelany, Patrice Felix-Tchkaya, Tamrat Gezahegn, Salifou Lindou, Joel Mpah Dooh, Mohamadou N’doye, Malala Andrialavidrazana, David Damoison, Jellel Gasteli, Mouna Karray, Emeka Okereke, Bili Bidjocka and Jems Kokobi.

Installations, paintings, photography, videos and sculptures will be shown, ranging in price from R1 000 to R5 million each.

Talks have also been planned over the three days, aiming to develop interest in contemporary African art. Cities like London and New York have vibrant art sectors, and the hope is that the talks will help Johannesburg artists to make the industry more competitive here.

Young artists will be encouraged to seek answers to questions about the art industry. The talks will include a series of lectures about collecting art and the trends and influences that drive the market. The lectures will be aimed at a broad range of people including academics, first-time buyers and international collectors.

Tickets, at R100 each, will be sold at the door. The Joburg Art Fair is at the Sandton Convention Centre, from 13 to 16 March 2008. It will be open from 10am until 8pm on the first two days; it will close at 6pm on the final day.