KWV: EPIC OF EVERLASTING – CECIL SKOTNES

Posted on 28. Dec, 2011 by BottlePlatePillow in 4) General News, KWV

KWV appears to have started grappling with some of the heftier concepts to be engaged: the Everlasting, the Arts, the Epic of Gilgamesh. Perhaps, to some degree, aptly: they have after all been the body, in Paarl and beyond, controlling the wine industry – for too many years to want to consider in their entirety. But, as time is always happy to point out, things tend to change; the big becoming small, the powerful, feeble. Even the immortal becomes.. well, dies in the end. But then, the key of the everlasting might be exactly this: change.

Over the years an impressive collection of art works have come to adorn the walls and vaults of this wine behemoth. Mostly forgotten, allegedly even erased from the books, these prize objects save a few have all but languished in storage. It took Thys du Toit, chairman of KWV and a man of a certain amount of vision to recognise the vision of another: Cecil Skotnes. The argument voiced by du Toit being, somewhat reasonably, that paintings (like bottles of wine) kept in storage don’t add value to anything or anybody except, perhaps, themselves. By exposing these to the public and allowing individuals to interact with them, one may provide an opportunity to enrich the lives of these people; of something beyond the austere symbol which KWV has become. Add to this mix of individuals and inspiration some wine (not that art can categorically be said to have ever existed without the benefit of this many-faceted liquid) pair them with a number of clean glasses, and one has oneself an art exhibition.

Epic of Everlasting

After touring the country for the larger part of a year the Epic of Everlasting exhibition, sporting a somewhat cheeky treasure hunt, has come full circle. Starting out in Stellenbosch and successively bounding through Cape Town, Pietermaritzburg, Bloemfontein, Kimberley, Pretoria, Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth, the KWV Skotnes collection, pivoting around a profound example of woodcarving art made for KWV, which casts the ritual of winemaking in the metaphor of the Epic of Gilgamesh, has been safely returned to its origin, Paarl; Laborie (inexplicably tucked away within the Paarl city limits) becoming its last venue. Work and fruits of labour united.

A lady is applauded. She has won herself a lifetime supply of Laborie Cabernet Sauvignon by being the winner of the final treasure hunt. Her prize, a Nebuchadnezzar of wine, too heavy for her to carry out of the venue, sits on a small wooden table next to the wall. How they plan to keep it filled remains to be seen. There is a condition, of course. She has to share the proceeds. And have some fun. Less the KWV won’t have. Slowly, at the hand of Skotnes, a bottle or two perhaps of wine and the story of an ancient king, we all learn.

In 1977, Cecil Skotnes created a piece for KWV which is arguably one of the artist’s most exceptional works. Based on one of the oldest stories of humankind, the Epic of Gilgamesh, Skotnes re-imagined this story as the Origin of Wine, and translated it into a remarkable wood-carved panel. His work celebrates not only the complex heritage of the wine-making industry in the Cape, but evokes a love for wine which stems from the ancient epoch of Gilgamesh and continues into the present day.

KWV again asked Skotnes to create two series of works for their 1979 and 1982 “Art Calendar” projects. The 1982 series depicts twelve extraordinary landscapes from the Cape region, which powerfully capture the unique terroir from which KWV’s wines are produced.

To honour Skotnes and his association with wine, KWV is pleased to present the Epic of Everlasting. Trough this exhibition, KWV wishes to share their treasures of Cecil Skotnes’ artistry, and encourage the public to take part in a wine and art experience which will continue to build on the KWV arts heritage into the future.

See www.epicofeverlasting.co.za for further details.

Jacques van Zyl

www.biodynamiclongtable.com

Tags: Cecil Skotnes, Epic of everlasting, KWV