Step into the world of Tony Gum + Installation Production
Tony Gum needs no introduction.
Having made her debut with the Christopher Moller Gallery in 2017, she has taken on the art world with impactful and raw pieces. If you’ve followed her work you would have deeply come to know her and experience her visible expression of times she’s moved through. In essence, she carries her heart on her art pieces for the world to see, share, and absorb. I worked alongside Tony in creating her installation space that would house exactly that - a showcase of her next body of work, a bit of a teaser to her followers that more is to come.
Working with a personal brand requires an understanding of both the being and the message - here we needed to include the visionary aspect of Tony’s mind to take the viewer into her world. She needed them not to view the work but to be immersed in it.
ART DOES NOT GIVE A FLYING ****….
What I love about art and working with these creative projects - there is no limit. When you work with a creative person that has a mega mind - no idea is off the table… Which I soon found out to be the case. After a vigorous brainstorming session, I threw it all on the table and suggested “Let’s just find an actual fridge door to include on the stand…” Initially, I thought okay - you’ve lost it Elsj. But never did I think there would be a day when I would drive around town to supplier warehouses only to view fridge door offcuts. (Please just imagine the conversation when you call a fridge hiring company, asking to hire the fridge door - no fridge required.. Queue the art of persuasion and negotiation skills..)
ART INSTALLATION AND THE PRODUCTION
Set with a 3m x 3m space - we created a little quad covered in her signature green - top to bottom - with key feature pieces that would compliment her art showcased inside, almost having her signature props in 3D reality but abstract thought. The mini booth was housed within the greater Christopher Moller Gallery stand at the annual Investec Cape Town Art Fair - the booth design itself created quite a buzz of curiosity - not sure what they’ll see when they peel around the corner.
IN GOOD COMPANY - LOCATION IS KEY
Housed next to the greats such as Andrew Salgado, Ablade Glover, and Joseph Ntensibe - Stepping into Tony’s World was met with great success. Curiosity always will be part of human nature, and we love them for it - but the excitement of this top-to-bottom Tony-esque style, was what had her following very excited for what is to come.
💭 “That Gum was the mistress of the strongest booth at the fair” - Ashraf Jamal, Ah … Legacy!… The 10th Investec Cape Town Art Fair.
Create your vision with me
Let’s talk about how we can create your next event or project - done your way, in your style.
Read more in the Art Times Magazine 👀 Page 12
Explore more of Tony Gum and her world with the Christopher Moller Gallery, 🌐 here
📸 Images courtesy of the Christopher Moller Gallery.
