1 Review on “William Humphreys Art Gallery”

1. Catherine Reichardt William Humphreys Art Gallery06/12/2011 at 15:14

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   You virtually never stumble across public art galleries outside the major cities in South Africa, but of course, in this, as in so many other aspects, Kimberley is anything but your average South African town, and neither is the William Humphreys Art Gallery (known affectionately as the WHAG) your average art museum. Mind you, I suppose that if you have been fortunate enough to have been fabulously endowed with mineral wealth which has supported over a century of diamond mining, the chances are that this has generated one of two well heeled individuals with a desire to make their philanthropic mark!

   So, who was William Humphreys? Unusually in a city that attracted so many immigrants, he was a native South African, whose parents moved from Oudtshoorn in the Cape to Kimberley when he was still a baby. He was best known as a businessman, farmer and politician who most notably was instrumental in the establishment of the Vaal Harts irrigation scheme, which was a ‘make work’ programme during the Depression of the 1930s which enabled a large tract of previously marginal land to be brought into economic agricultural production. He was granted the freedom of Kimberley in recognition of his services – only the second man to receive this honour (As an aside, don’t you hate it when you follow up on an obvious question such as “So who was the first then?” and draw a blank. My guess would be either Cecil John Rhodes or Sir Ernest Oppenheimer, but if you find out, then please let me know!)

   Humphreys was an avid art collector, and donated a sizeable number of 16th and 17th Century Dutch and Flemish Old Masters, British and French paintings, antique furniture and other objects d’art from his personal collection to the city, which forms the core of the current collection.

   The museum is enchanting, eclectic – and, what’s even better, free! The collection (which has been supplemented by various bequests, donations and loans from other notables such as the Oppenheimer family and De Beers) is a charming ‘grab bag’ of all sorts of different periods and artistic styles which I loved. When I visited for instance, there was an exhibit of modern work that had recently been acquired from the Eastern Cape (most of which I disliked, but at least it showed that the museum’s collection is dynamic). I don’t usually like graffiti art, but the depiction of the solvent sniffer in the adjacent photo – displayed by the entrance to he gallery – is a fantastically powerful piece. There is a brilliant Augustus John portrait of a Japanese figure (on loan from the Oppenheimer collection) and the most realistic seascape I have ever seen (‘Angry Sea’ by David James). However, my personal favourite was a modern life size bronze sculpture of a baby hyaena that was so realistic and endearing that if I could have taken it home with me, I would have!

   The museum also has a very active film programme and hosts frequent cultural events. The staff are incredibly friendly and helpful, and not only did the staff member I struck up a conversation with suggest some excellent things for me to do in Kimberley, but he also invited me to attend a private viewing at the gallery that evening (which I had to sadly decline, as it would have clashed with my return flight!)

   There is also a small tea rooom with a very limited menu which looks onto a pretty courtyard.

   If you only have time to do one other thing in Kimberley (other than visit the Big Hole, which I’m taking as a given), then choose this – you won’t regret it!

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