Springs artist looks for meaning in her work
She had her first art exhibition at the Springs Art Gallery in 2006
Springs artist Mariapaola McGurk is enjoying her first solo art exhibition, set up in Bryanston.
Mariapaola was born in Springs but moved to Johannesburg to chase her artistic ambitions.
She had her first art exhibition at the Springs Art Gallery in 2006, which was a major highlight in her career.
She hopes to expand her artistic talent after moving back to her roots.
Mariapaola’s medium of choice is papercutting, which requires a very delicate and careful way of working.
Also read: Springs Art Gallery to host exhibition
“Papercutting is a process of extraction; there is nothing added to the paper, but instead the imagery is made visible through the removal of the paper in a similar way to a sculptor working in wood or stone,” said McGurk.
“The limitation is that all elements of the imagery must be connected, or the pieces will fall out. The patterns also serve as the strength of the paper, lessening the fragility of the work,” she added.
McGurk’s art is also informed by real-life events.
“During 2020, the rhythm of my life, and most people’s lives, was challenged and disrupted. My creative company had to close and with it the loss of daily interactions with people working or visiting the workshop.
“Those faces are seen throughout this exhibition and are portraits of memory, change and disruption,” she said.
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