South African National Gallery

South African National Gallery Review

This museum houses a good collection of 19th- and 20th-century European art, but its most interesting exhibits are the South African works, many of which reflect the country's traumatic history. The gallery owns an enormous body of work, so exhibitions change regularly, but there's always something provocative—whether it's documentary photographs or a multimedia exhibit chronicling South Africa's struggles with HIV/AIDS. The new director, Riason Naidoo, plans to maintain the edgy and sometimes controversial exhibitions that his predecessor Marilyn Martin was known for, as well as establish the museum as a leader of contemporary and traditional African art. Free guided tours on Tuesday and Thursday take about an hour.