Three artists from Potchefstroom invaded a national art gallery in Kimberley and caused quite a stir with contrasting exhibits.
The venue was the William Humphreys Art Gallery (WHAG) and Rowland Daniel, Attie Gerber and Jody Olën combined sculptures, pen and ink, markers, collage and photographs to make statements about different aspects of life. The exhibition opened on 29 April. “The Beginning”, a selection of impressive sculptures by Rowland Daniel, represents his work of the last two decades. The title symbolises an ongoing process of renewal and change that finally takes one back to where everything started.
Rowland says his work is intuitive. “I am lead by the material, technology, inspiration, and passion… I leave it up to the viewer to make their own conclusions and interpretations.”
Jody Olën, art teacher at the High School for Girls in Potchefstroom, used various media in her extremely fine detailed work under the title “The Modern Condition”. With this “Condition” Jody challenges assumptions regarding the nature of reality, and she demonstrates how humans are creatures of infinite contradiction.
“And I hope”, says Jody, “I provide a window and momentarily allow the viewer to commune with the hidden universe.” Attie Gerber’s “Voices of the Drylands” is a visual anthropological photographic study of vanishing lifestyles in the arid Namaqualand, Richtersveld and Kalahari. He focuses on traditions that were practiced by herders through the ages. These include dwellings, food and natural medicines.
“While social grants, pensions and a wage economy ensure a better life, they also impact negatively on traditions that need to be preserved for future generations. I hope my photographs will help in this regard”, says Attie.
The tripartite exhibition at WHAG in Kimberley will be on show for the rest of May.
