What makes a collector a collector? Interview with Tariq Essop
Andrew Kayser, When the Time Comes
What makes a collector a collector?
The word 'collector' can feel intimidating, conjuring images of sprawling collections, white walls lined with blue-chip names, or decades spent acquiring art. But perhaps the world has been defining it too narrowly. Is a collector measured by the number of works they own, or by the intention behind the works they choose to live with?
At Latitudes, we believe collecting begins long before a wall is full. Perhaps the question isn't how much you own, but how you choose. What if collecting begins with curiosity, grows through intention, and is shaped by the stories and artists you decide to live with?
We sat down with Tariq Essop, who we'd certainly call a collector - though he might not agree. If you've ever thought collecting wasn't for you, or wondered where to begin, this conversation is for you.
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Tariq Essop, portrait.
Tariq Essop
"I am a communications and marketing specialist, with a decade of experience helping organisations across different sectors communicate with clarity, purpose, and impact. I am currently working as a Client Lead for Mint Partnership, a UK-based consultancy partner for pioneers in trauma healing, mental health and wellbeing."
LO: I've heard you're particularly intentional about collecting art - what does that actually look like in practice? Walk me through your process from seeing a work to deciding it belongs in your collection.
TE: In order to buy a work of art, first and foremost, it has to elicit a feeling within me when I see it. That feeling does not always have to be positive, but it is important that a work makes me feel something. My second consideration is the artist – what is the artist's story, what is their background? What informs their creative process, what is the message/theme they are conveying through their work? Price is a consideration – I won’t buy a work unless it is within my budget. Investment / future value potential is the last consideration. If a work has the potential to be worth more in the future, great, but ultimately that isn’t a big consideration for me.
LO: There’s a Sue Williamson photograph of your grandmother hanging in your home. I was wondering if that is something you can speak to?
TE: The photograph that I have wasn’t taken by Sue. Sue took three photos of my grandmother that I am aware of, one for her A Few South Africans series, and two for her All Our Mothers series. My mother and an uncle have editions of those, and all three have been displayed in various galleries/institutions, including Goodman Gallery and the V&A in the UK. The photo I have was taken by Gisèle Wulfsohn. It is, without a doubt, the most important piece in my collection. My grandmother had a huge influence on me. She was a collector – in fact, one of my earliest memories of being aware of and engaging with a work of art is of a work by Joachim Schönfeldt that she had displayed in her apartment in Killarney. That work is now part of my parents’ collection.
Amina Cachalia, Gisele Wulfsohn
LO: What kind of role do you see collecting art playing in your own life? Do you share the joy of collecting with your family?
TE: Collecting art brings me joy. It’s a form of self-expression that I value so much. I definitely share the joy of collecting with my family – I’ve mentioned my grandmother’s influence; my parents are also collectors, and my brother is a collector and works in the art world. My parents are the single biggest reasons for my love of art. I grew up in a home that was filled with art. They taught me something that has stuck with me, namely that collecting doesn’t have to be about spending a lot of money or buying art from big-name artists. It’s more about what speaks to me, what resonates with me, what elicits a feeling within me.
LO: What was the first and last artwork you acquired?
TE: The first artwork I acquired was An Account V by Thenjiwe Niki Nkosi. My latest acquisition was Joburg Man by Dale Yudelman.
Thenjiwe Niki Nkosi, An Account V
LO: How would you define the word collector? I ask because it's a term that so many people - across all walks of life - find surprisingly intimidating, as though it belongs only to those with vast, museum-worthy collections. At Latitudes, we're interested in expanding that definition, and challenging the idea that collecting is reserved for a select few. To us, a collector is someone who engages with art intentionally - following curiosity, developing a point of view and building lasting connections through the works they acquire.
TE: That’s a really interesting question. I like the Latitudes definition. The term collector is one that I’ve struggled with, because I feel like in this day and age, it’s a word used for people with expensive artworks, or, as you put it, “vast, museum-worthy collections”. I’ve never thought of myself as a collector. I simply buy work that I can afford, that resonates with me. I think the definition used by Latitudes is one that I am comfortable with, and best explains my relationship with the art – buying art is something that I approach very intentionally, and is above all else a deeply personal process.
LO: If you could buy two works on the Latitudes platform today, what would those be?
LO: Latitudes promotes payment plans as a normal part of buying art. Has that kind of flexibility changed what felt possible for you as a young, new collector - and what do you wish more people understood about how accessible collecting can actually be?
TE: That flexibility has made art feel more accessible to me. My latest purchase (Joburg Man) is through a payment plan – had that not been possible, I probably wouldn’t have purchased the work. The payment plan option allows greater flexibility as it allows me to spread the payments and work the purchase into my monthly budget and cash flow. That being said, while I do appreciate the promotion of payment plans, I would still caution any aspiring young collector to be mindful of their financial situation when purchasing art. I wouldn’t buy a work of art on a payment plan if it is going to affect my monthly budget and cash flow adversely, and negatively impact my ability to pay for my basic needs.
I wish more people understood that art doesn’t have to be expensive to be worth collecting. I love that Latitudes allows you to view art below 5k – there are so many interesting works on the site that are in that category. Look, the reality is that in the context of South Africa, even works that cost a few hundred rand are a luxury to many, but if you are interested in collecting and you have some money set aside for art, even if it’s a few hundred rand, there will be something out there for you.
