Art and Justice: Explore the Incredible Art of the Constitutional Court

The Constitutional Court is assuredly one of South Africa’s brightest gems – in terms of the founding document it represents, its architecture and, not least its art. Edited by Bronwyn Law-Viljoen, Art and Justice explores the remarkable collection amassed by the now-retired Concourt justice Albie Sachs. The following article discuss how Sachs collected the work, the artists involved and the art on display. Warning: you will want to drop everything and visit the Constitutional Court after reading this.

Almost as remarkable as the scope and size of the collection is the manner in which it was gathered. The art was the responsibility and passion of one of the judges of the Court itself – Justice Albie Sachs. And the artworks were not the fruits of a large budget. Rather, they were donations from artists, gallery owners and patrons of the arts.

Sachs’s project stretches back to the beginning of the Constitutional Court in 1994. He was appointed – with a fellow judge, Justice Yvonne Mokgoro – to take charge of decor when the Court was still in its old building. By all accounts, Sachs took on the job with gusto.

His role has been to badger artists to donate a work or two – although most seem to have given willingly; this is not surprising, given the stature of the Court and the new building it inhabits.

• Read the complete article at the Constitutional Court

Book details

• Art and Justice: The Art of the Constitutional Court of South Africa edited by Bronwyn Law-Viljoen
  Book homepage
  EAN: 9780958497558

Images courtesy The Constitutional Court of South Africa

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