The Johannesburg Art Scene from the 60's to the 90's

 

Gallery 21 Johannesburg - city centre galleries

Exhibitions from 1977 to 1993

 

 

Gallery 21 Johannesburg (1977-1993)

 

Following the closure of the operations at Hyde Park Corner to the north of Johannesburg at the end of 1976, suitable premises were found right in Johannesburg's financial centre. Through the family owned business of Galrand Holdings (Pty) Ltd., trading as Gallery 21, Fernand F. Haenggi henceforth continued presenting mainly SA art. 

 


 

Gallery 21 at 88 Fox Street Johannesburg

 

1977

Gallery 21 took the whole of the first floor of this old building until construction of the new adjoining JCI complex, forcing the gallery to move to an even older  building next door, by the end of 1983

Equity House, 88 Fox Street, Johannesburg

21/03

Opening Exhibition - 94 works - including Mslaba DUMILE-FENI, Azaria MBATHA, Stanley NKOSI, Lucky SIBIYA, Lucas SITHOLE 

01/05

Traditional Art from West Africa - the private collection of Mme. FML Haenggi

June/July

Group Exhibition

16/08

Ulrich SCHWANECKE

13/09

Lucas SITHOLE - 29 sculptures

27/09

Fabio BARRACLOUGH

25/10

Michael FLEISCHER + Tessa FLEISCHER

08/11

"SELECTION '77" - 9 artists: L ABRAMS, Z BORBEREKI, N CATHERINE, D KOVACS, D MEERKOTTER, R MYLCHREEST, Lucas SITHOLE, J VAN HEERDEN, Konrad QUILLMANN

22/11

John STAPLEY

.


 

1978

Gallery 21 Fox Street Johannesburg - main gallery view 1978

Main exhibition area of Gallery 21 at Equity House, 88 Fox Street, Johannesburg

28/03

"4-WAYS" - watercolours by Cynthia BALL, Nick GARWOOD, Diedie MARAIS, Ulrich SCHWANECKE

11/04

Allan D SCHWARZ

09/05

Albert Chr. RECK - tapestries

29/05

"A collector's choice" - SA + international artists - including Leonard MATSOSO, Isaac 'NKOANA, Stanley NKOSI, Lucky SIBIYA, Lucas SITHOLE

17/10

Lucas SITHOLE - 29 sculptures

31/10

"NEW CAPE ART 1978" - W ANZISKA, B ARNOTT, G LINSLEY, H MORRIS, O SCHOLNICK, C VAN DER MERWE, Sue WILLIAMSON

21/11

Norman CATHERINE - 67 works

12/12

"Treasures of the Year" - 93 works - including Lucas SITHOLE

.


 

1979

"The endless sleep I." 1979 by David OWEN

David OWEN "The endless sleep" 1979

13/03

David OWEN

27/03

Louis STEYN - batiks

10/04

Stephanie WATSON

01/06

"Winter '79" - 33 artists including Ezrom LEGAE, Lucky SIBIYA, Lucas SITHOLE

31/07

John STAPLEY

14/08

Nico VAN RENSBURG

15/08

Lucas SITHOLE Retrospective 1958-1979 at Rand Afrikaans University, organised by "The Haenggi Foundation Inc." - 61 sculptures

28/08

Zoltan BORBEREKI

28/08

Daniel KOVACS

11/09

Norman CATHERINE Retrospective 1969-1979 at Rand Afrikaans University, organised by "The Haenggi Foundation Inc." - 131 works

12/09

Lucas SITHOLE Retrospective 1958-1979 held at the Pretoria Art Museum, organised "The Haenggi Foundation Inc." - 61 sculptures

25/09

Lucas SITHOLE - 12 sculptures

09/10

Rika ROUX

20/11

"Watercolour today" - Ulrich SCHWANECKE, Durant SIHLALI, Hermine SPIES, Leigh VOIGT

10/12

"Treasures of the Year"

 .


 

1980

Calinka Pulé in front of one of her works shown in 1980

Calinka PULÉ with one of her paintings

22/04

Nico VAN RENSBURG

15/07

Calinka PULÉ

28/07

Eli KOBELI

12/08

Barbara BURRY + Henry VAN WYK

26/08

Ulrich SCHWANECKE

09/09

Christo COETZEE - "Mythological Encounter Paintings from Spain"

23/09

Frank SPEARS

07/10

Dirk MEERKOTTER - graphics 1976-1980

04/11

Lucas SITHOLE - 9 sculptures

 


 

From 1981 to the second part of 1982, the premises were used by "The Haenggi Foundation Inc." to present to the public various aspects of the growing PELMAMA PERMANENT ART COLLECTION - Part I. to Part VI. - by now exceeding 280 works.

In addition, "The Haenggi Foundation Inc." presented at these premises, usually in the smaller room, various exhibitions, Gallery 21 handling all sales, with part proceeds flowing to the benefit of the Foundation.

 

1981

The winning entry by Lucas SEAGE 

"Found Object", 1981  mixed media  41x102x195 cm

Lucas SEAGE - LSEA8101

12/07

"South Africa Now" - The Winners of "The Haenggi Foundation National Art Competition 1981 for Black Artists and Art Students" - 35 works from 21 artists accepted by a 6-member jury out of 111 works submitted by 31 artists 

The first two winners were: Lucas SEAGE and Shadrack HLALELE - both winning a 2-year scholarship to the Düsseldorf Academy, studying under Joseph BEUYS, offered by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, Bonn
Additional prize winners were: Cyril KUMALO, Paul M. SIBISI
Honorary mentions: Lucas MALEMANE, FIKILE, Nat MOKGOSI
Other artists accepted and exhibited were: J DINISO, E KOBELI, D MABASO, R MABASO, K MAJOLA, K MAUTLOA, M MOKOENA, V MZIMBA, S NHLENGETWA, S NKOSI, B NSUSHA, R PHILLIPS, R PUDI, L ZWANE - further details on request

02/08

Elizabeth HARINGTON - "The Guitanjali"

06/09

Lionel ABRAMS

04/10

Lucas SITHOLE - 7 sculptures

01/11

Ulrich SCHWANECKE

01/12

"Collectors' Pieces" - including Valente MALANGATANA, Lucas SITHOLE

 


 

1982

Koos DEN HOUTING "Running Bird Man", 1982

"Running Bird Man" 1982 by Koos DEN HOUTING 

04/04

Audrey BERMAN - drawings

02/05

Koos DEN HOUTING + BASIE YSSEL - sculptures

06/06

Herman VAN NAZARETH - from a private collection - works from the 60's and 70's

July/August

"Accrochage I + II" - including Ezrom LEGAE, Ephraim NGATANE, Lucas SITHOLE

01/09

Durant SIHLALI - sculptures + watercolours

 

As from October, 1982, the larger exhibition room reverted to Gallery 21, and the following exhibitions were held:

 

15/10

"Selection '82" - including Ezrom LEGAE, Ephraim NGATANE, Stanley NKOSI, Lucky SIBIYA, Lucas SITHOLE

09/11

Lucas SITHOLE - 14 sculptures

 


.

1983

"Loosing Faith" 1983 by Richard MABASO

Richard MABASO "Loosing Faith", 1983 yarrawood - RMAB8301

18/01

"Summer Selection '83" - 70 works including Cyril KUMALO, Ezrom LEGAE, Valente MALANGATANA, Ephraim NGATANE, Durant SIHLALI, Lucas SITHOLE 

22/02

"Watercolours Now and Then" - including Stanley NKOSI, Durant SIHLALI, P David MOGANO

22/02

Lauryn ARNOTT - an introduction

15/03

John J BLOM

30/03

"Easter Selection" including Cyril KUMALO, Ephraim NGATANE, Durant SIHLALI, Lucas SITHOLE

12/04

Michael HEYNS

09/05

Nat MOKGOSI + Richard MABASO - c.v. Nat Mokgosi + ref. Richard Mabaso

07/06

"The Nude in 21" - including Cyril KUMALO, Lucas SITHOLE 

05/07

"Le Poisson" - Variations on a Fish - including Durant SIHLALI, Lucas SITHOLE

26/07

"Recent Acquisitions" - including Valente MALANGATANA, Ephraim NGATANA, Durant SIHLALI, Lucas SITHOLE

16/08

Fred SCHIMMEL - "Tideline 1982-1983"

30/08

Kevin ATKINSON

13/09

Dirk MEERKOTTER

11/10

Albert Chr. RECK - "Then and Now"

25/10

Cyril FRADAN - "Venice Observed, 1980/83"

13/11

Lucas SITHOLE - 28 sculptures 1980-1983

22/11

Ulrich SCHWANECKE

09/12

"Christmas Exhibition" - including Ezrom LEGAE, Lucas SITHOLE

 

Gallery 21 was on the move again! J.C.I. having acquired a whole city block to be imploded, excluding Equity House which was due for upgrading, the gallery had to move promptly. Luckily suitable premises were found on the 3rd floor of Victory House, just across the road, ultimately extending over 195 m2

 


 

Gallery 21 at Victory House, corner Harrison & Fox Sts., Johannesburg

 

1984

Caroline Haenggi and Steven Ditshilwane with Fred Schimmel painting, 1984

 

Caroline Haenggi discussing Fred Schimmel's painting from his 1984 exhibition with Stephen Ditshilwane

 

15/01

"Mid-Summer 1984" - 21 artists including Durant SIHLALI, Lucas SITHOLE

04/03

Diedie MARAIS

19/03

"Collectors' choice" - Z BORBEREKI, S KORS, U SCHWANECKE, L SITHOLE

15/04

Calinka PULÉ -  "Die Spinner"

06/05

Edin CURRIE-WOOD

27/05

Fred SCHIMMEL

08/07

John J BLOM

29/07

Elizabeth HARINGTON

19/08

Deline DE KLERK + Willi LOTTERING

06/09

"September Selection" - 40 artists including Durant SIHLALI, Lucas SITHOLE

30/09

Frank HORLEY

11/11

"Miniature Exhibition" - 100 SA artists

02/12

Ulrich SCHWANECKE

 


 

1985

A typical work by Maryna Huyser, a triangular m/media painting called "'n Stad", from 1984

"'n Stad" 1984 mixed media triangular painting by Maryna HUYSER

29/01

"Summer Exhibition" - 50 artists

03/03

Frank HARLING

24/03 

Maryna HUYSER - "The mysterious world"

05/05

John CLARKE

26/05

Mark ENSLIN

01/06

PELMAMA PERMANENT ART COLLECTION (Part)

11/06

Fred SCHIMMEL

07/07

Izak DE VILLIERS + Julian VENTER

23/07

Edin CURRIE-WOOD

13/08

Wendy MALAN

03/09

Albert Chr. RECK

08/10

Adrian DE VILLIERS + Ellen PEARSON de Villiers

15/10

"Cream of the Crop" - Watercolour Society of SA

22/10

Lauryn ARNOTT

22/10

Lucas SITHOLE - 20 sculptures

27/11

Diedie MARAIS

 


 

1986

"Levitation" 1986 by Sonja ZYTKOW

"Levitation" 1986 by Sonja Zytkow

27/01

Mary HENDRY

17/02

Tim ROBSON

08/04

Erna BODENSTEIN, Guy DU TOIT, Amanda MARAIS

22/04

Willi LOTTERING, Izak DE VILLIERS, Pieter ROUX

06/05

Norman CATHERINE 1970-1986 - 100 works from the PELMAMA PERMANENT ART COLLECTION

06/05

Norman CATHERINE - 19 works - gallery stock

27/05

Michael HEYNS

10/06

Contemporary African Art in the PELMAMA PERMANENT ART COLLECTION - 23 artists - 86 works: DUMILE-FENI, FIKILE, HLALELE, KOBELI, KUMALO, LEGAE, MABASO, MALANGATANA, MALEMANE, MASEKO, MBATHA, MBUYISA, MOGANO, MOKGOSI, MOTJUOADI, MUAFANGEJO, 'NKOANA, RAKGOATHE, SEAGE, SIBISI, SIBIYA, SIHLALI, SITHOLE 

10/06

John MUAFANGEJO - 40 linocuts

01/07

Sonja ZYTKOW

22/07

Elizabeth HARINGTON - "Homage to J.S. Bach"

05/08

25th Anniversary make-me-an-offer sale - including KOBELI, LEGAE, NKOSI, RAKGOATHE, SAOLI, SIBIYA, SITHOLE

19/08

Maureen QUIN

16/09

Rosemarie MARRIOTT

30/09

Dirk MEERKOTTER

21/10

Wendy MALAN

04/11

The UNIBO Group - Estelle MARAIS, Adrian DE VILLIERS, Julie KILIAN, Colin COLE, Melvyn BURGER

18/11

Ulrich SCHWANECKE

02/12

Louis SCOTT

.


 

1987

"Geknelde Land" by William Steyn - WSTE 87/01 - part of the PELMAMA PERMANENT ART COLLECTION

"Geknelde Land" 1987 collage & ink by William STEYN

27/01

Contemporary South African Masters Present and Future - 60 works - ABRAMS, ATKINSON, ATTWOOD (MASON), BALDINELLI, BORBEREKI, BOYS, CATHERINE, CILLIERS-BARNARD, CLARKE, COETZEE, DE JONG, DIETRICH, DU TOIT, ERASMUS, HUYSER, JAROSZYNSKA, JAROSZYNSKI, KOVACS, MEERKOTTER, MOOLMAN, PRETORIUS, SCHIMMEL, SCHWANECKE, SCULLY, SITHOLE, VAN HEERDEN, VAN RENSBURG, VILLA

21/03

"Autumn Exhibition" - 43 artists including Lucas SITHOLE

01/07

"Winter '87" - 40 artists - including Ezrom LEGAE, Lucas SITHOLE

04/08

Johann DU PLESSIS

04/08

John MUAFANGEJO - 60 linocuts from 1969-1986

18/08

Guy DU TOIT + Maryna HUYSER

01/09

Fred SCHIMMEL

15/09

Hannes HARRS

13/10

Lucas SITHOLE - 18 sculptures

03/11

John CLARKE, Erna BODENSTEIN, Johann MOOLMAN, Jacobus KLOPPERS, William STEYN - 62 works

.


 

1988

"Untitled" 1988 oil pastels & m/media by Andrew BREEBAART

Andrew BREEBAART "Untitled", 1988 - oil pastels and mixed media on paper - 107x79 cm

09/02

"Make-me-an-offer" sale - 143 works

20/09

John J BLOM

11/10

Lucas SITHOLE - 12 sculptures

15/11

Pieter ROUX + Walter MEYER + Andrew BREEBAART

.


 

1989

"Dead End - Endless Sunset" 1987 by Izak de Villiers

"Dead End - Endless Sunset" 1987 by Izak DE VILLIERS - soon to  change his name to Zak BENJAMIN

07/02

James MPHAHLELE - "The Dialoga Series" of 25 linocuts

14/03

Maureen QUIN

04/04

Giulio TAMBELLINI + Sonja STRAFELLA

02/05

Ulrich SCHWANECKE

18/07

Izak DE VILLIERS

11/10

Lucas SITHOLE - 14 sculptures

31/10 

Dan RAKGOATHE Retrospective Exhibition 1968-1989 - graphics and mixed media - 90 works

21/11

Willi LOTTERING + Deline DE KLERK 

 


 

1990

One of the watercolours by Ulrich SCHWANECKE from the Ostermond Series 1990

Part of the Ostermond Series 1990 - watercolour by Ulrich Schwanecke

12/02

Included in "Artists of the 80's" - Rand Afrikaans University - Gallery 21's contribution (21 works by Fred Schimmel, John Clarke, Lucas Sithole, Norman Catherine, Maureen Quin, Wendy Malan, Ulrich Schwanecke, Dirk Meerkotter, Giulio Tambellini, Dan Rakgoathe)

 

20/02

Dee JACOBS

06/03

Ulrich SCHWANECKE

20/03

Rosemarie MARRIOTT

29/05

Lallitha JAWAHIRILAL - 16 graphics and paintings

29/05 

Paul SEKETE - 19 sculptures

 

The gallery activities were curtailed drastically from mid-1990.

 

1991

01/02

"Summer Fever" Make-me-an-offer sale - total disposal of Gallery 21's own trading stock, including Ezrom LEGAE, Richard MABASO, Daniel MATSHIDISO, James MPHAHLELE, Dan RAKGOATE, Winston SAOLI, Paul SEKETE, Lucky SIBIYA, M SIMON, Lucas SITHOLE, Michael ZONDI

06/08

Fred SCHIMMEL

Aug./Sept.

Permanent Exhibition - various artists including L SITHOLE

08/10

Lucas SITHOLE - 13 sculptures

05/11

Dirk MEERKOTTER

01/12

Dirk MEERKOTTER, Fred SCHIMMEL, Ulrich SCHWANECKE

 


 

1992

February

"Treasure Trove" - rare contemporary international and SA works of art from the 50's to the 90's

April/May

"The R100 sale and other bargains"

June/July

Esias BOSCH from 1966-1976 from a private collection

Aug./Sept.

"The Pot-Pourri Show" - a series of mini shows

Oct./Dec.

Masterpieces from the 60's, 70's and 80's - over 100 works

 


 

1993

At one stage Gallery 21 stretched over half the 3rd floor of Victory House  (195 m2) - by the time it closed for good, there had been no other white owned businesses in it for quite a while - the city was changing rapidly!

Gallery 21 - 3rd floor Victory House cor. Fox & Harrison Sts Johannesburg

01/01

Paintings and sculptures by SA masters from a private collection

02/02

Fred SCHIMMEL

23/02

Dirk MEERKOTTER

March

Permanent rotating show till closure of the gallery during 1993: N CATHERINE, D MEERKOTTER, F SCHIMMEL, L SITHOLE

 


 

Fernand F. Haenggi returned to his home country Switzerland by the end of 1993, together with his wife Caroline. However, during 1994 until early 1995, he still used a remainder of the premises for national and international fund-raising drives which The Haenggi Foundation Inc. had been conducting for a number of years on behalf of the PELMAMA ACADEMY SOWETO.

From 1st till 19th May, 1995, all sculptures in wood and stone remaining in the Estate of the late Lucas SITHOLE (1931-1994) were sold to the highest bidder on behalf of the Estate, by silent bidding, but were only made available to public institutions and current owners of Sithole's works. The general public was excluded, the exhibition was not subject to reviews. 

The remaining premises were vacated shortly thereafter, per 31st May, 1995.

 

Thus ended Fernand F. Haenggi's 30-odd years of art activities in Johannesburg. Politics, national and international, and economic realities had won the upper hand. 

 


This page last updated 20th June, 2016

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