VOLKSKAS ATELIER
NSA Gallery
June 1, 1994

 

Held at the NSA, as a preliminary exhibition for what was considered then one of South Africa’s most ‘important’ art shows: the Volkskas; this was significant in that a large number of people associated with the FLAT participated. These included De Kock, Marrins, Anthony Scullion, Barry, Lene Templehoff, Erlich, Gainer, Mansfield and myself. Out of the 30 exhibiting, 9 were associated or would become associated with the FLAT.
Then NSA President, Mike McMeeken, opened the show and attributed its success and the rejuvenation of young art in Natal to the FLAT.[2] Art critic Carol Brown in her column in The Daily News wrote:

The show is distinguished by its wide variety of media including the imaginative and intelligently conceived installation by Piers Mansfield. This installation pays tribute to Kennedy and has a nostalgic air which is achieved by a minimum of objects and dramatic lighting which creates an air of tension. Installations are few and far between in our South African art vocabulary although they are well accepted and part of regular art making in the rest of the world. Siemon Allen's “Zulu for Medics” also falls into this more conceptual framework where art is not wallpaper. Both these art forms have been recently shown at the FLAT Gallery where art as that on the show has been given a new venue. This initiative by a group of young artists has perhaps been a major factor in energizing our local art scene.[3]

Meijer in her column also mentioned the FLAT:

“The 1994 regional ‘Volkskas’ is one of the strongest showings we have seen for many years. The exhibition exemplifies the vibrancy and enthusiasm of young artists working in the greater Durban region,” McMeekan said. He then singled out the FLAT Gallery, “Much of this enthusiasm for this exhibition is a direct spin‑off from the alternative FLAT Gallery, which is a valuable and…[4]