South Africa: Bar Owner Sold As Work of Art

Johannesburg — "I realise I am not exactly an oil painting, but I believe that each human being is a work of art," says Bruce Gordon. And he should know, because someone has paid R52 000 to put the bar owner and former journalist on display as an artwork in the South African National Gallery in Cape Town.

Simply titled Bruce Gordon, the living artwork was sold earlier this month at an auction held for the benefit of the city's Michaelis School of Fine Art , and easily fetched the highest price. The R52 000 paid for the unsigned work was double that of the next highest sale - R26 000 for two photomontages by Jane Alexander - and outdid the R14 000 paid for "boxed works" by Pippa Skotnes.

...

AllAfrica publishes around 400 reports a day from more than 100 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.