INTRO SECTION SOUTH AFRICAN ART’S
One of the reasons why I founded my museum was the desire to celebrate the art of my country of origin. I collected works by the people of southern Africa and I appreciated the artistic expressions of the locals. But at that time, it was only a utopian dream. South African artists were not considered at all. The model remained Europe, an unavoidablepoint of cultural reference. The history of my country, which for decades has been marked by violent social tensions, has made the relationship between the institution of the museum and the work of South African artists very complicated. Today, however, my dream has come true: not only does the Art Gallery offer an extraordinary selection of works by local artists, but thanks to its archive and library, it has also become an important centre for the knowledge and dissemination of this reality. Finally, my museum fully reflects the complex identity and multiculturalism of South Africa.