20120909
AP
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — The Johannesburg Art Fair showcases artists, galleries and museum collections from across Africa.

The fourth annual fair, from Sept. 7 through 9, displays work designed to provoke debate on Africa's pressing social issues.

As well as more traditional mediums for artists, the Johannesburg art fair includes modern video and electronic installations. Flashing neon lights and sculpted glass heads attract the attention of the crowd.

But it is art inspired by Africa's socio-economic woes and political upheavals that attracts buzz among visitors.

A life-size elephant made from trash draws a steady stream of admirers who pose for pictures. The pachyderm, with wire mesh to hold the plastic junk in place, is an example of how many African artists use everyday items to make art.