Robyn Sassen

A freelance arts writer since 1998, I fell in love with the theatre as a toddler, proved rubbish as a ballerina: my starring role was as Mrs Pussy in Noddy as a seven-year-old, and earned my stripes as an academic in Fine Arts and Art History, in subsequent years. I write for a range of online and print publications, including the Sunday Times, the Mail & Guardian and artslink.co.za and was formerly the arts editor of the SA Jewish Report, a weekly newspaper with which I was associated for 16 years. This blog promises you new stories every week, be they reviews, profiles, news stories or features.

Review: ‘Ikhaya Likamoya’ by Sethembiso Zulu — Ties that bind us all

Friday Robyn Sassen - 1 Aug 2020

Multimedia journalist and healer Sethembiso Zulu’s debut solo show embraces a fierce, raw and broken timelessness that encapsulates what it means to be human

Imizwilili zika Nolufefe ‘Fefe’ Mtshabe

Article Robyn Sassen - 6 Mar 2020

Chorister and opera singer Nolufefe Mtshabe inspired hundreds of pupils to uphold her legacy

SA genocide museum opens

Article Robyn Sassen - 29 Mar 2019

Permanent exhibition elements are arranged to immerse visitors fully in the experience

Nita Spilhaus in the Cape: More than a picture book

Article Robyn Sassen - 22 Apr 2016

Few South African art-lovers will recognise her name, but Nita Spilhaus's work from the 1920s is like a breath of fresh air, writes Robyn Sassen

Holocaust fantasies distort truth

Article Robyn Sassen - 29 Jan 2016

‘Final Solution’ balances stories of Nazi Germany and the extermination of Europe’s Jews and reveals the treatment meted out to them post-World War II

Sylvia Glasser dances to her own drum

Article Robyn Sassen - 10 Dec 2015

Sylvia Glasser dared to dream the impossible during the dark days of apartheid and radically altered the landscape of SA contemporary dance.

JAG puts on show of a lifetime

Article Robyn Sassen - 5 Nov 2015

The gallery is staging six exhibitions to celebrate its centenary but its future is not without problems.

An outsider’s bare act of defiance

Analysis Robyn Sassen - 3 Oct 2015

A genderqueer artist is going boldly, goldly naked to trumpet the sacred human form.

JH Pierneef’s people-less power

Article Robyn Sassen - 4 Sep 2015

One cannot dissociate Pierneef from Nationalist politics but his work defies easy categorisation and kneejerk condemnation.

Q&A Luyanda Sidiya: The seeds dance sows

Article Robyn Sassen - 23 Aug 2015

Siva is an electric dance into the notion of what god is, courtesy of Standard Bank’s Young Artist winner.

Roger Cohen: We are all party to a family’s tale

Article Robyn Sassen - 14 Aug 2015

The New York Times columnist remembers the life of his family in South Africa, particularly his mother June, the girl from Human Street.

Peter Schütz’s carved celestial creatures

Article Robyn Sassen - 7 Aug 2015

Peter Schütz’s sculptures are not only aesthetically brilliant, they also have the power to evoke a belief in the Omnipotent.

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Press Releases

Special Reports

Transport Month

[email protected] - 23 Oct 2020

An infrastructure-led recovery will help to stimulate demand in the South African economy, which is vital post the Covid-19 pandemic

Special Reports

Limpopo’s Economic Recovery Plan to fight Covid-19 impact

special reports - 23 Oct 2020

Billions have been set aside to help farmers and industries get back on their feet as part of the Limpopo Socio-Economic Recovery Plan

Special Reports

Disrupt the corrupt

special reports - 22 Oct 2020

Whistle-blowers should be seen as real heroes in the fight against corruption and we need a change in culture for this to happen

Special Reports

Corporates: A force for good for a sustainable future

special reports - 20 Oct 2020

In order to see people and nature thrive what is required is a strong focus on partnerships – we cannot act alone anymore

Special Reports

Combatting wildlife crime in Southern Africa activity annual programme statement (APS) No. 04

special reports - 20 Oct 2020

Concept papers are sought for implementating activities, for a multi-faceted programme that aims to reduce poaching and illegal trade in wildlife

Special Reports

The financial decisions made during your life journey, and their impact on your retirement outcome

special reports - 19 Oct 2020

The longer you save towards retirement the larger your retirement savings are expected to be due to the effect of compounding interest

Special Reports

In conversation with SA Reserve Bank Governer, Lesetja Kganyago

special reports - 16 Oct 2020

'Make interest rates zero and inflation goes up and then people save less – we need savings to fund investment in this country'

Special Reports

Secure your business from cyber threats

special reports - 16 Oct 2020

Many business-grade security systems now have built-in learning systems and AI to help businesses stay up to date with protection