RMB Turbine Art Fair goes online in 2020

JOHANNESBURG.-RMB Turbine Art Fair, a unique South African art fair that brings together exhibitors from around the country to present, sell and celebrate art, has gone online this year – a first of its kind in South Africa. RMB TAF has become the epicentre of emerging art in South Africa. It presents a space for the showcasing of established and new talent in an environment that is immersive, accessible and inclusive.

August 2020 is the 8th edition of RMB Turbine Art Fair with the aim of offering a bigger, bolder and exhilarating fair as we look forward, look back, look in and look out to the rich cultural and creative landscape of South Africa.

“Due to Covid-19 and lockdown safety precautions across the country, a physical fair is not possible. But a fair is most definitely required to offer support and a platform for galleries and artists alike,” says Glynis Hyslop, Founder of RMB TAF.

The virtual RMB TAF takes place from 27th (VIP Preview) August – 2 September 2020. An online fair gives galleries a chance to exhibit work of selected artists, and provide a platform to showcase their brands and capitialise on the extensive marketing opportunities RMB TAF offers. A virtual fair also enables galleries and artists to harness a national, and possibly an international, audience.

“We believe that there is no better time than right now for collectors to actively support artists and galleries. We also see this as an opportunity to support art schools in ensuring a generation of new artists. Through our special projects we showcase the work of emerging artists at the start of their careers, giving them a much-needed launch pad. We feel that it is vital to keep the art ecosystem engaged during this time and keep the conversations ongoing, and through our planned virtual talks and walkabout programme, sponsored by RMB Private Bank, we are able to so,” adds Hyslop.

“As the proud headline sponsor of RMB TAF we are able to co-create a powerful platform to showcase artistic talent, which is needed now more than ever. The virtual fair will give galleries and artists access to a broader and more diverse audience,while appealing to both existing and new collectors,” says Chief Marketing Officer at RMB, Alison Badenhorst. “RMB TAF creates an authentically African art experience brought to life for the first time in a virtual digital format. Unlocking and supporting diverse young African talent, demonstrates RMB’s vision to positively transform lives through partnering the Creative Economy.”

Each gallery has a dedicated virtual booth where they display their artworks with interactive messaging, behind the scenes profiling of artists, and video. Vistors to the online RMB TAF are able to search artist, exhibitor, or medium.

“The public has embraced the ethos of RMB TAF and over the years have built a long-standing, trusted relationship with the fair, which provides a safe and curated space in which to buy art,” says Hyslop.