Visionary artist Diane Victor’s new exhibition and book set to delight Johannesburg

Building on the resounding success of her captivating exhibition earlier this year at Spier Wine Farm in the Western Cape, renowned artist Diane Victor’s rousing pieces exploring the dark side of South African society, the vulnerability of life and the human condition are coming to Johannesburg.

Open City and FNB Art Joburg will present a curated selection of Victor’s works at Strauss & Co from 6 to 12 September 2023, to coincide with FNB Art Joburg as part of Open City's sweeping citywide cultural activations.

The exhibition, which is open to the public and free to attend, will be unveiled on the evening of 5 September with an invitation-only book signing of the newly published Diane Victor – Prints, Drawings, Smoke. This monograph, from French publishers Mare et Martin, covers forty years of the virtuoso’s politically engaged career and provides a stylistic analysis of her work through a large selection of her prints and drawings. The book reveals Victor’s extraordinary mastery of printmaking and drawing techniques, and her constant exploration of new media, such as ash and candle soot. Her graphic works, almost exclusively in black and white, are woven through with references to the history of art and mythology. There will be a special exhibition walkabout with Diane Victor on Saturday 9 September 2023, from 10am – 12pm.

Both the exhibition and the book capture Victor’s career-long consideration of themes of corruption, social inequality and the human condition, especially the vulnerabilities experienced by women. Through her thought-provoking creations, Victor raises implicit questions that resonate deeply with viewers, inviting them to contemplate the complex tapestry of life.

For more information visit https://artjoburg.com/open-city/.

Date: 6-12 September 2023

Time: Monday-Friday, 09h00-16h00

Location: Strauss & Co, 89 Central St, Houghton Estate, Johannesburg