The show documents the travels of an idealist Machiavellian hero, guitar in hand, on a crusade to revitalise the arts of the culture capital of the world. Fuelled by equal measures of blind optimism and hedonism, the search for new ideas and exotic flavours takes our hero to a fictional paradise setting where this bizarre satirical action tragedy literally starts to unravel.

The Travels of Bad comprises a 48-page mini-novella with 17 photographic works and a 17-track album soundtrack. The exhibition includes a selection of sculptures and merchandise.

The works will also feature prominently at the JoBurg Art Fair from 3-5 April 2009 at the Rooke Gallery stand and the exhibition will travel to WhatIfTheWorld/Gallery in Cape Town to open on 27 May 2009 and close on 27 June 2009.

The exhibition will remain open to the public from 5 March until 1 May as per the following hours:

Tuesday – Friday: 10am – 5.30pm, Saturday : 9am – 12pm.

The Rooke Gallery
The Newtown
37 Quinn Street
Newtown
Johannesburg

Tel: +27 (0)72 658 0762
Fax: +27 (0)86 503 5055
www.rookegallery.com
inside@rookegallery.com

01 May – 31 May 2008

The exhibition comprises a set of one off photographs, drawings, paintings and prints and includes the launch of Zander’s first book, The Drain of Progress – A Catalogue Raisonné that provides a unique view of a stage set upon which Blom’s ongoing modernist experiment occurs.With the highest degree of sincerity Zander Blom questions the personal relevance and motives of the modernist visual artists before him. How did it feel to be the true “avant-garde”? Moreover, of what personal relevance is Modernism when viewed as a series of cultural movements that stretch back as far as the 1890’s? His investigation of modernism is much like a child being presented with a watch, and in order to understand it – he immediately takes it apart.

Working as an artist since 2002, Zander Blom’s physical output includes painting, drawing, printmaking, installation and photography (primarily as a means to document the development of his physical works).

The Drain of Progress was launched in September 2007 along with a major exhibition at the Rooke Gallery (JHB) and was chosen as one of the Top 5 Art exhibitions in Johannesburg 2007 by The Sunday Independent. Zander Blom appears at Whatiftheworld / Gallery as part of a collaboration with the Rooke Gallery, Johannesburg.