ART: Dennis Mair
At the Sluice event, what started out as bits of plastic and hose pipe transformed into an interactive art experience for the masses. The group of young artists got their shit together last week and mutated the B-Block at the Castle of Good Hope into a pleasure ride for anyone to absorb. They challenged the imaginations of all around by engaging with a public space and exchanging a cultural and artistic discourse.
The opening consisted of a mix of veteran exhibition-goers, young artists and media personalities on the hunt for fun. Throughout the garbled readings of Neville Dubow, the masses filled their glasses and stuffed their faces with comestibles and hooch at an art happening with a difference.
The Sluice group created works of experimentation to be relished by passers through the fort in high season. Tourists willing to venture into the realm of cut-off space and the exfoliation of time could purchase the wacky product of the collective talents of these young artists ‘ a curio shop containing bottled tap water for sale and Sluice T-shirts. Wild, nonsensical and a little weird; this group of indefinables combined their talents in an industrial world reminiscent of the ghost tunnel at a carnival or the dark side of Disney.
Performance pieces ranged from screaming wenches in the upstairs chambers to rap-chants and videos with slide accompaniment.
The Sluice series of events were the result of the last 10 months’ conceptualising by a group of goofy inventives, looking to play with art and understanding. It took place from December 10 to 20, and brought to life the beginning of a non-art extreme with so much meaning that there was no meaning at all.