Exploring internal, external worlds

FOR one weekend only, some of SA’s finest artists bring you an exhibition, Anthropology, that show-cases paintings, sculptures, ceramics, printmaking, jewellery and photography.

The exhibitors include Grace Kotze, Louise Jennings, Mhairi Pattenden, Jenny Parsons, Vulindlela Nyoni, Sarah Lovejoy, Heather Pattenden and Marlene de Beer. Tonight chatted to Kotze and Jennings about the exhibition, running from Friday to Sunday, and what their work represents.

“The exhibition was designed to allow the artists an opportunity to work on their personal visual concerns. Anthropology is a show that allows the artists to represent their personal anthropological constructs. They were given free expression to explore their belief systems and philosophical make-up,” said Kotze .

“Then collectively, the show reflects on artists’ common interest in expression and communication.

“Art-making is a very precious tool with which humans can investigate and represent the internal and external worlds in which we reside.”

Kotze says she has always been fond of painting.

Referring to her work in this exhibition, she says: “I don’t see any direct and specific symbols in my work, but rather paintings made of marks and images that strike certain emotional chords. The works I have done deal with the human form and the art of mark-making. I have attempted to investigate how something as simple as a mark can evoke an emotion… I have examined how human posturing can trigger emotional responses.”

Explaining the biggest challenge she has faced as an artist, Kotze said: “This has been overcoming the ego. It is a constant challenge to paint from a point of authenticity rather than a place of trying to please a certain market place, art hierarchical structure, person or gallery.”

Jennings, whose preferred medium is oils on canvas, says her paintings in the exhibition are “small still lifes of everyday objects in her home”.

“I hope to convey a feeling of quiet and stillness, a place for one to contemplate. This is achieved by using a muted palette and allowing the objects a lot of space to rest in. I also place the object in the centre of the canvas, which creates a meditative stillness... little prayers.”

Jennings says she has always noticed art and gradually fell more in love with it as she got older.

• Anthropology runs from Friday to Sunday at the Breathing Space Yoga Centre, 191 Bulwer Road, Glenwood, Durban; 7pm on Friday, Saturday 10am to 5pm and Sunday 10am to 3pm. Call 082 560 5045 or e-mail gracekotze@gmail.com