Profile iZArte

Gert and Janneke Rebergen combined their love of art and design and a unique concept for a gallery. To them, art is more than stunningly beautiful. There is an extra dimension to the art in Gallery iZArte: social import.

What is it that links you to Africa?
‘Africa is very different from the Netherlands. Intriguing. We are travellers, savour abiding in foreign places. Foreign cultures, foreign habits, foreign cultural backgrounds are triggering elements for us. It gets to us. The feeling of: what is behind that, how does that work? Africa triggers us greatly. Africa lives. It definitively has (also) something to do with the fact that many people in Africa still live with the laws and habits of the tribe. In South Africa it matters a great deal for your (modern) daily life whether you are a Xhosa, Venda or a Zulu, for example.

Extreme astonishment. South Africa is also exciting if you look at the developments after the abolition of apartheid. Even with or mostly because of the presence of Mr. Mandela there was no predicting the processes that would take place in the country. And how and at what pace. Not for long will it be what it should be. But every time we visit South Africa after a couple of months we see the physical changes: for example a lot of new RDP-houses are built, surrounding the Market Theatre safe public cultural life has come into existence. By now, even when it is very dark outside, we drive to our friend in Soweto ourselves. There are programmes for children with HIV/Aids in the big hospital in Soweto, “Barra”, including discussion groups for parents and a permanent medical supervisor for every child. Apart from that, it is terrible and incomprehensible that the South African government creates so little policy regarding the Aids issue.
For now white people will remain privileged and black people mostly underprivileged. Through Gallery iZArte we hope to be able to contribute to decreasing this strange difference, even though it will be small scale.

What is iZArte?
‘iZArte is a gallery at Laarstraat number 47 in Zutphen. Since 1920 it says on the black façade in capitals: VERKOOPLOKAAL.
The Netherlands seems ready. People are looking for unique and special experiences, interesting exhibitions, special readings. The economic recession is slowly turning to growth. There is a growing interest in and demand for social responsible products and social responsibility in business. A lot of practical realism exists now: the Dutchman likes to buy products which are firstly beautiful and also socially or ecologically responsible.

We combined our great interest in art and design and a new concept for a gallery. To us, art is more than just stunningly beautiful. We sell art with an extra dimension: social import.
In the gallery trendy, unique art and design is presented. Mostly from South Africa, but also (among others) from Brazil, Asia, Zimbabwe and Swaziland. Paintings, wooden en stone sculptures, jewellery and ceramics. Bought ourselves from artists and companies with, as we like to call it, “a social background”. Through short connections, lasting relationships, shared profit. Gert put it very clear-cut once: to make life a little better for the suppliers and their vicinity.
A few names: Clifford Charles’ en Godfrey Majadibodu’s paintings, Nelson Makamo’s prints, Thomas Kubayi’s, Justice Mugwena’s en Lucky Makamu’s wooden sculptures from Limpopo, Noria Mabasa’s clay sculptures, Raphael Mavudzi’s and Patrick Gutsa’s stone sculptures, ceramics of The Potter’s Studio, the Nala women’s Zulu pots from Kwa Zulu Natal, Nathalie Dissel’s, Veronica Baleni’s, Nokhutula Zikhali’s and Hanan Yanny’s jewellery en jewellery of AVE Design.
By the way, to everyone who would like to come and visit the gallery: iZArte is open at Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays (also in the evening), Saturdays, every first Sunday of the month and at special Sundays in Zutphen. We sell privately, but also business to business. iZArte can provide unique Christmas gifts, beautiful business gifts with charisma. Through iZArte, by using unique sculptures and paintings, or colourful dishes or vases,  the board chamber or conference room can get a new appearance, with a story.’

How did you come up with this concept?
‘Actually it was very logical. We like to travel. To foreign places as well. We rent a car and tour the country, just the two of us or with our children.
We are very interested in development projects. Small social businesses, women’s empowerment, disabled people, disadvantaged people, job creation projects.
We are very curious about other people, artists at the country side, artists who tell stories with their sculptures, paintings and jewellery.

We love art. We go ‘art watching’ a lot in the Netherlands as well. Modern art, but also naïve and outsider art.
During our travels, we have seen a lot of beautiful art and design. We are touched by social injustice. Here in the Netherlands, but also far away. Much poverty amongst certain segments of the population, limiting or non-existence of facilities for disabled people.
For some time now, we have been involved with the creation of new forms of employment for disadvantaged people, forms of social enterprise, with fair trade with developing countries. This gives us income, structure, pride, status, perspective.
Put this all together, shake well and the result will be Gallery iZArte.
We are doing business with the artists and companies, however. When it comes to doing business, we don’t do charity. The business deal is honest and sympathetic, but it still is business. We trade, there is no begging or ‘mission’ involved.’

From which African countries do you take art and design to the Netherlands and what are the developments involving art and design in Africa?
‘In the Zuidelijk Afrika Magazine of NiZA, an article was printed not so long ago about the renewed Africa Museum in Berg en Dal. After a thorough renovation, more than ever attention is paid to contemporary African art. African art is no longer folklore, but real art, it stated. Art for the art, not made because of African rituals, but made in an African context. The items were purchased for their artistic qualities and not for ethnological reasons. This sounds good, that is how we feel it as well. We went and saw the new exhibition in the Africa Museum and we really enjoyed it.
Wooden sculptures aren’t made very much in the Netherlands now. We offer woonden sculptures made in Limpopo. Sculptures made of dark, heavy wood, made using the African ways, with a lot of Venda and Shangaan craftsmanship, without much fuss, but so movingly subtle.

At this moment we have mostly art and design from South Africa. Mostly, but also from Zimbabwe and Brazil. This is, however, not determined to last forever. Beautiful art and design, and social import, that is determined. In time, more countries could be added, but the projects will have to fit the concept of the gallery. It happens everywhere in South Africa. But it surfaces mostly in the urban areas. There, it becomes visible to the public first, like everywhere. In the rural areas you have to go and look for it, or happen to come across it, or someone has to point it out to you. What was called black art a couple of years ago, oppressed art, is loose. And very beautiful.’

What is the most special place in Africa you have visited yourselves, that everyone should see?
‘A very special place to us is the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg. There, so beautifully and repulsively, so impressively without feigned emotions, is recounted how it has got this far en how it could get this far. As you walk in, you get a ticket which immediately determines whether you go in as a black or a white person en which entrance to take. This causes quite a lot of irritation. With image and sound, photos, texts, objects, as a visitor you walk the road of misery, you are dragged along and sucked into it. And you come out very quiet and small, with a lot of knowledge of how it all happened and what it must have been like in apartheid South Africa en how it all ended. Everyone should see this!

Another place everyone should visit: Soweto, a tour through Soweto with guidance of our friend Rita, a black women, born and raised in Soweto, still living there. Deliberately unmarried, with two adoptive children, a large social and family network, engaged by church and guiding. Rita takes people from her home through Soweto, via many icons of her black life in the South West Township. You will never forget it, it will definitely make you more of a person - contact with Rita can be established via us.

Very different, but also very beautiful in South Africa: elephants walking around in the wild, giraffes, guinea fowls, buffaloes and warthogs.
And very special as well, but rather not for everyone: a visit to the artist Noria Mabasa’s, where she lives surrounded by her sculptures. A very special woman. Who makes very beautiful clay sculptures, wooden sculptures and ceramics. Art.’

Contact

iZArte,  social import + gallery,  art + design
Laarstraat 47
7201 CB  Zutphen
The Netherlands

Telephone: +31(0)6-13802505
Website: www.izarte.nl
E-mail: info@izarte.nl


See photo gallery IZArte