Looking back, it was probably quite an easy time to start a business during that period. Sanctions had recently been lifted and the country was bursting with creativity and looking for opportunities. It was infectious plus exciting. And it was there I set up our first company in partnership with my close friend, a naval architect, designing and manufacturing custom made, contemporary wooden furniture.
Based in
Woodstock, a huge industrial space maybe 5000 sq. ft., in those days it was
known not to be the best part of town. We encountered muggings, hostages, our
vehicles were stolen. But there was something about the time and place which
seemed to still inspire, allow to override these often opportunistic problems
to nick the latest Nokia, hijack us on a Friday on the way to the bank or hold
us at gun point if we appointed the wrong person to factory Foreman. Our
company was called JAK.
We
employed around 17 local men and women from the townships who had a distinctly
different life experience to ours. We started work at 8 am but our employee’s
day often started around 4 or 5 am due to their other commitments and travel. It
was rare that anyone called in sick or was late.
Our aim
was to create an apprenticeship environment to gain cabinet making skills in a
way which would hopefully enable them to work for themselves too. One of their
first jobs was to always make a tool box, with traditional joinery and
gradually we helped to build their collections of tools here.
I would say
this was one of the richest, most enjoyable periods of my life. If it could
have continued then that would have got my vote. Our business though couldn’t
have survived in Cape Town so with the help of a UK investor I moved back here
and we set up JAK UK. A furniture and design company based in Hoxton,
Shoreditch to sell and exhibit artworks by emerging South African furniture
designers and artists. We also supported various Social Enterprises from there
too.
I regularly
travelled back and forth to help manage the manufacturing, Channel 4 made a
short documentary, filming in colour when in South Africa, interviewing our
employees, hearing their perspective and then in black and white back in the
UK. My Grandma was alive in those days and she said it went well. Always the
one to rely on if you needed the truth!
And generally
this was pretty successful, we ended up supplying furniture to Liberty’s London
and being involved in numerous, exciting projects. High end residential
projects through to meeting the design requirements for private members clubs
or art installations in Virgin First Class Lounges and at the South African
High Commission. We opened up unique opportunities and continue to work with
many of the same clients ten or so years on.
Hopefully
this provides a little bit of background. Regular blogs about emerging art,
that’s the New Year’s Resolution … more to follow shortly
·
Currently our main aim is
to promote emerging UK artists and to hopefully facilitate a couple of Pop Up
Galleries this year. We are also preparing for our first solo exhibition
working with artist Benjamin Hope and his exhibition is scheduled towards the
end of this year
·
Call to Landlords – we
are always on the look-out for short lets. Please do contact and we will send
you our requirements: info@JPArtConsultancy.com
JP Art Consultancy is a London based
nomadic Gallery and art consultancy service which specialises in sourcing local
and emerging fine contemporary art and design worldwide.
Also follow us on Twitter
@JPArtGallery1 or Facebook for regular art bulletins.
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