The 2020 Tollman Bouchard Finlayson Art Award and exhibition will continue despite the cancellation of Hermanus FynArts.
This prestigious art award will take place when South Africa reaches Level 1 of the lockdown phases. According to FynArts festival director Mary Faure, this decision was made possible by the support and kindness of its loyal and generous sponsor Bouchard Finlayson. “They have graciously offered their private cellar as the exhibition venue for this year. We are deeply grateful.”
Faure explains that the exhibition of finalists’ work has always taken place in the working wine cellar at Bouchard Finlayson and remained in place until the end of September when the barrels are filled with the new season’s wine. “The timing for the exhibition could no longer be guaranteed due to the logistical implications of social distancing and uncertainty on how long this would remain in some form for both people and goods.”
The competition culminates in an exhibition of the work of various artists. The tondi (round artworks) are displayed on the heads of wooden barrels.
The art exhibition forms part of Hermanus FynArts, an art festival that features music, food, workshops and much more. While FynArts 2020 is cancelled in its present form as announced in March, FynArts is pleased to report that plans are being made to continue working closely with performers, artists and other partners. “This will develop creative ways to offer some of the cancelled events in the months ahead,” says Faure.
The Hermanus FynArts Select 2020 programme, to be launched soon, will consist of selected virtual and weekend events over the rest of 2020. It is aimed at keeping everyone abreast of news of the artists, performers and presenters at this year’s programme.
“During the festival, from 5 June until 16 June, we plan to offer selected events via both recorded and live-streaming and, soon afterwards, present a few stimulating and uplifting weekends of FynArts Select,” says Faure. More information about dates and content will follow when the details of the event are a little clearer.
