There are certain cultural hubs left in South Africa. Here, different cultures mix, but they also retain their individuality, their beauty in difference. In South Africa, we have 11 (or 12) official languages, and within each of these different languages, you have different cultures, groups, and traditions. For example, in my language, Afrikaans, there are so many different cultures and traditions that to label everyone under the name "Afrikaans" you smooth out so many differences. I always like to say, everyone in Afrikaans does not like to sit around the same fire. But this goes for all the different languages in South Africa.
But because we live next to each other, these cultural differences over time fade out, blend into each other, and thus forming new (hybrid) identities. Where better to see all of this than in an art gallery?
My partner and I drove from Pretoria to the Free State, and this was our first stop: the Oliewenhuis (Oliewen-House) Art Museum in Bloemfontein. From old original artworks by the "greats" to a mixture of cultures and use of public mediums, this was our visit to this beautiful house. Please join me on this virtual journey!
The House Itself
The house itself is part of the artwork. It is very old and in the style of some of the original houses built from colonial expansions. (The date on the building reads 1941, but I guess this spot was of importance so there must have been other buildings here before this one.) Or so I guess. Before it was turned into the art museum, it was the house of the local governor. But this has since moved to just across the hill. Now, the building itself has become a piece of art.
I was not allowed to take photographs of the buildings or the art with my camera. Always these strange rules. I was also allowed to take photographs with my phone, but I was not allowed to take photographs of my partner. Strange rules...
But I managed to "steal" some photographs of the building with my camera.
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Hiking Route with Art
We were told that there was a hiking route on the property as well. Sadly, we did not have time to visit and hike it, but also, it was so hot in the middle of the day, in the middle of the summer. But we saw the entrance, or the start of the route. The surrounding area was just as beautiful.
Inside the Art Museum
As you enter the museum, you are greeted by incredibly friendly staff that want to help you. This is sometimes unheard of in these places, as art is not a usual thing in South Africa.
But nonetheless, we were greeted by staff and they helped us through the various buildings.
And what an experience!
We did not realise just what they had up to offer, and we were so lucky to see one of the non-permanent exhibitions.
This is only a small slice of what we had to see.
From paintings made on materials such as old exam booklets, to incredibly big ballpoint pen drawings, to old classic artists, to the incredible traditional blankets that apparently inspired big clothing brands.
(But again, there was this strange rule about not taking photographs inside of the building, but we could take photographs with our phones. We were also not allowed to take photographs of each other (who makes these rules?).)
I also took a video of the inside of the building, with some of the artworks:
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Not Just Art: Time Capsules
There was more than just art. Alongside the permanent exhibition of art, they also held what looked like time capsules. Artifacts from different eras stood amongst the art. It really is strange when you look at things from the past, it becomes time capsules of a long lost world. It is crazy to think about how we can still see most these things, how they survived sometimes just goes beyond understanding.
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Not Just Art: Traditional Blankets
We were not ready for the non-permanent exhibition. As soon as they took us downstairs in an old pump house, we saw the most incredible exhibition of traditional blankets.
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If you did not know, some cultures in South Africa have traditional blankets that they prize, give as gifts to weddings, and so much more. These blankets are very important, but the art exhibition also showed how they change throughout the years. The vertical straight lines on many of these blankets were also initially mistakes that later were prized.
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Leaving with a sense of gratitude
As we walked alongside our guide, across a big stretch of grass, we felt so much gratitude. It was wonderful to see our country's art, tradition, and culture mix. It was wonderful to see how tradition change and adapt. So many people are worried about change, especially with tradition. But change is always happening, we cannot stop it. And this is wonderful.
For now, we were happy, filled with art, and ready for more such adventures.
Happy travelling, and keep safe!
All of the musings and writings are my own. The photographs are also my own, taken with my Nikon D300.