#182. Think of covering the walls with some highly covetable posters. To mark the (dare I say it – FIFA, don’t shoot) World Cup in South Africa in 2010 (there it’s out and so far the use of those words together in one sentence has brought me neither a lightning bolt nor an ominous knock at the door. In fact those German Shepherds barking are mine) a number of local and international artists were commissioned to produce some truly gorgeous works of art. An official Art Posters Edition series that “celebrates and pays homage to the beautiful game“.

I came across them at David Krut at Arts on Main a Sunday or two ago after having tasty breakfast at Canteen (do not arrive before 10am as even though they are open they will look surprised). It’s actually a perfect Sunday location on a good day in Joburg. You get to sit outside among the olive trees (I think they’re olive trees) enjoying a little patch of grass and sunshine amid the otherwise grey industria of downtown.

Back to the posters they are a little pricey at a few thousand rand a pop and prices vary according to the artist but oh they are cool. I particularly like the work by William Kentridge (Bicycle Kick) and the one by Marlene Dumas.

And then of course there are the delicate Kandinsky-like shapes and colours of Ethiopian-born Julie Mehretu (Stadia) and the embroidered patchwork of a soccer player wrestling an angel by Sudanese artist Hassan Musa in The Good Game, and I can’t leave out Isolde Krams’ intensely vivid and evocative Red Elephant.

You got to see them. It’s the beautiful game made ever more so.