Richard John Forbes

South Africa is a country with many social challenges and a result of this is that art is often not given the attention it should have. It is seen as something remote and elitist and my work over the past few years has drawn people in - to interact with the sculpture. Recent projects encourage direct physical contact. People feel included in the work and my recent exhibition, (at the ABSA Gallery , Johannesburg until the 24^t" of February) which empowered people to make their own art using my figurative, sculpted spinning tops as dry point etching tools on large copper plates which prints are pulled from after the show, has been enthusiastically received on this basis.

The sculpture is easily accessible - everyone is valid and potentially powerful. By taking the step and interacting with work it increases self-esteem, people no longer view art as something outside their sphere of understanding. They "play" and see the humour and solidity of the work. It is specifically not something that they must view from the other side of a line on the floor. In fact signs I put up say ""Please Touch the Art." This is freeing and refreshing for people who are used to experiencing art at a distance. My exhibitions are full of laughter and movement.

Art has the potential to bring great pleasure to many people, but to truly make art mainstream, it must be more accessible and real to as many as possible. Future projects that I am working on take this approach further.

"The Blue Gum Project"  

The project to transform the five trees already earmarked as a "monument" was the first in a three year series of public works, sponsored in full by ABSA Bank, that will touch every major centre in South Africa .  

The transformation of the Prince Albert trees was recorded by a professional video crew. The resulting video will be played on a large screen at every subsequent event around the country. For example, the following tree-sculpture project was at the KKNK - only weeks after the Prince Albert project was completed. The viewing of the Prince Albert footage at the KKNK generated interest and undoubtedly brought people to the town to view the finished work.  

Three local artisans were offered positions as trainee sculptors, receiving a wage of R1000 per week for the three week-long project. One local labourer was employed at a rate of R500 per week for the three weeks.  

ABSA agreed to install a plaque detailing the history of the trees and the endeavours of local inhabitants who fought to prevent their total removal. The small plaques (in English, Afrikaans and German) already installed on several trees remained in place.