In June, a solo exhibition by Landi Raubenheimer will open at Birdhaven’s In Toto Gallery.
The Fine Arts graduate from the University of Johannesburg, turned artist and lecturer, is exhibiting another series of her fine work from all the inspiration she’s found in the City of Gold.
This exciting exhibition consists of paper pulp paintings based on photographs of various landscape images taken around Johannesburg. They have been abstracted into what could be seen as pixelated colour scapes and really are a marvel.
Some of the pieces are based on the work of South African landscape artist, JH Pierneef’s Johannesburg Railway Panel paintings and more abstract pieces that deal with landscape in a different manner.
An interesting aspect of the creative process for this art is that it is difficult to predict how different batches of pulp would shrink and discolour during the production of each piece, and this is what lends each artwork its unique appearance as not only a flat surface, but a textured object that is also an image.
“The colours used in the artworks are very much related to a nostalgic understanding I have of Johannesburg and South African landscape,” said Raubenheimer.
“Blue is really important in many of the pieces; these familiar shades of blue are also present in Pierneef’s paintings, which resonated for me with a unique South African landscape palette of colours. The blue sky is a natural element present in even the most industrial parts of the city.”
The other important colours are oranges, earth tones and pinks, and these remind me of the brickwork used in 70s architecture in Johannesburg’s inner city, as well as the earth tones in Pierneef’s work, and landscape representations by artists such as Thomas Baines.
The exhibition is set to go on display at the popular gallery from 23 June to 24 July.
Details: www.intotogallery.co.za
