Art Gallery Owner, Curator and Fine Artist, Anthony Harris conceptualised a first of a kind national cross-disciplinary contemporary art exhibition, entitled Modern Miniatures, to show in Nelson Mandela Bay from 28 May to 15 June, then moving to Trinity Hall, Grahamstown from 27 June to 7 July 2013 at the National Arts Festival. “There has been an overwhelming response from 128 leading fine artists, ceramicists, photographers and sculptors nationwide who are keen to participate in this exhibition selected by Professor Greg Kerr and NMMU’s HOD Music, Art Design, David Jones”, Anthony Harris said. Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University sponsored the exhibition and BASA gave a supporting grant.
Miniature art is a uniquely novel and highly collectible art form based on a minute scale, which traces its roots back to the book paintings and illuminated manuscripts of the 7th century. Humans’ fascination with creating in small scale is evident in many of the world’s civilisations. Ancient Greeks adorned their walls with small murals, while coins and rings bore engraved portraits. In the Middle Ages, monks often embellished manuscript pages with delicate illuminations and bordered them with a red lead pigment and minimum from which miniature later evolved. Elizabethan England was noted for its miniature portraits on vellum, and later ivory, which served much as small photographs do today, adorning mantelpieces, side tables and memory and decorative objet d’art.
Leading SA artists who have work on this exhibition include contemporary artists Sandra Hanekom, Anton Brink, Lydia Holmes, Dolla Sapeta and Anton Momberg to name a few of the participating artists
Miniature Art today embraces a wide spectrum of subject matter, media and techniques. With minimal space requirements and favourable cost comparisons, original fine art is placed within the reach of emerging art buyers and seasoned collectors. Prices range from R350 for an unframed oil, to R19, 500 for a Momberg bronze sculpture.
Meet Anthony and some of the artists at Trinity Hall Sundowner Sessions daily during the festival from 17:30 – 19:00.
Nina Allchurch
Sandra Hanekom Miniature
