Discussing Art making

Review of Kentridge and Dumas in Conversation
Screened at the Encounters Documentary Festival at the Nu Metro, V&A Waterfront, Tuesday, 7 July 2009
By Janet Botes

This documentary gives insight into the production and thinking processes behind the artwork of two of the most renowned South African artists today. William Kentridge and Marlene Dumas share their working methods, techniques and studios with each other and the viewer. Their art differs in a wide variety of ways, with widely opposing styles and approaches, which proves greatly successful in defining each artist’s work. Scenes of the two artists working in their respective studios, scenes of their work and scenes from an exhibition of each artist’s work were integrated almost seamlessly into the prevailing conversation.

During the conversation, controversial taboos in art were touched slightly, but both artists seemed a bit reluctant to address deeper issues of context and meaning in their work. They were also not encouraged to talk about their thoughts on South African Art at present and how they perceive it, which could have proved insightful and increased the depth of the discussion. Another possible and valuable question would have been to explore how, or if, either artist contributes to supporting new talent and in this way advancing contemporary art into new heights and ventures. Being established and influential, they are essential players in the field, and what they do could have great repercussions.

Even when keeping the above in mind, however, one does realize that these were not issues or themes for the conversation, which was in fact geared toward their art and how they create it. Should the above questions or issues be included in the documentary, it would have lost its focus on artistic production and rather moved its focus into the sphere of artist community examination. This could be another avenue of exploration for the director, Catherine Meyburg, who could prove to be a very successful forerunner in promoting art practice and art discussion through documentary film-making.

Kentridge and Dumas in Conversation screens again on Firday, 17 July 2009 at 6.30 pm. Make sure to book your seat, as they are limited and well worth it.

Pop culture meets surrealism

Review of Originalé, solo exhibition of Louis Minnaar's work
by Janet Botes

At first glance the viewer is transported into a fantasy world in black and white - flying birds, wrinkled men and spider creatures share a space with arrows thrown through the sky and into people, birds and pictures. Dynamic images on screens, as well as recordings in a streetlamp and owl-resembling recorder/player, further enhanced the surreal quality of Louis work in the small space of Salon 91.

His stylised illustration style, the simplity of the imagery and the diversity in form are some of the characteristics making the collection of work a unity without losing the viewer’s interest. Surreal combinations of misformed human bodies and animalistic forms create a phantasmorical undercurrent – and thus creating an own visual language with metaphors that could possibly represent a pursuit of sanity. This is further enhanced by the use of his digital motion manipulations or footage displayed on screens, of which imagery includes sea creatures. The innovative use of audio further expands the tangible manifestation of Minnaar’s ideas.

Balance between the minimalist nature of the black and white imagery and a complexity of content is achieved by using a wide variety of forms, and subjects that include arrows, large eyes, birds, spiders, creatures, ligaments and morphed features. The strange juxtapositions and experimental nature of the work begs for classification as contemporary art, while the graphic quality and clarity of imagery makes it accessible and open to interpretation by a very wide audience.

Little in the work illustrates purely local content, and rather puts the work in a universal and global market. In a South African context, this might reflect on a need of artists to reach further than national borders to make a living or make a difference through their art. But it could also reflect a deeper dissatisfaction with supporting obvious association with Africa, South Africa and the sometimes hyped-up diasporas it create. Regardless of the many different opinions, views and interpretations his work will spark, Louis Minnaar seems to be one of the forerunners for a new state of visual expression in art.



The exhibition runs 30 June 209 – 27 July 2009 at
Salon 91, 91 Kloof Street, Gardens, Cape Town.
Gallery hours Tue-Fri 10am-6pm Sat 10am-2pm

The City my Canvas

Let's paint, sculpt and artify Cape Town!!!
Artists collaborating for a creative Cape Town.

I'm looking for artists, interested in collaborating with me on a project where we would each create our own public sculptures/artwork in and around Cape Town. We need to meet, plan, talk, share ideas, and eventually create individual-, as well as a collective proposal to be presented to the appropriate authorities for approval.

The project is inspired by the District Six Public Sculpture Project that was endeavored and proved highly successful in 1997. The City my Canvas Project, aims to create high quality permanent artwork that will:

• communicate a positive message to the community,
• encourage participation by the public and thus make the arts more accessible to them
• add to the aesthetic quality of the urban environment,
• make the city even more enticing to tourists.

Please contact me with your name, contact details, some examples of your work, and your initial idea at art@janetbotes.co.za. Go for it!!

Quick little hello and update

Watch this space for some new paintings soon...

I'm taking quite a while to finish quite a few unfinished artworks, and spending a lot of time on finishing the website. But I'm planning on launching the website on Monday, and that leaves next week to paint, design and be really, awesomely creative.

Also keep a lookout for the new Kunspieksels newsletter, and if you're not yet on the mailing list, get your email address to me @ janetbotes@yahoo.com asap!

Peace and love

New work & website launch

Keep an eye out for my website,
which will be launched in the next two weeks at www.janetbotes.co.za.

You will, however, still read about all exhibitions, work in progress, and new work on this blog, as the website will only serve as online portfolio, showing my work... More info to follow soon!

"Moss", mixed media on canvas, 150mm x 150mm ea, 2009.

Inspired again by nature

"Direction"
Photographic record: Land Art
2009


"Washed Away"
Photographic record: Land Art
2009


"Nuance of our land"
Digital illustration
2009

Amazing opening: MOLO LOMO

The opening was a huge success and lots of fun. We got amazing feedback and compliments about the exhibition and also our individual artwork. If you missed out on the opening event, be sure to have a look at the work during the next two weeks at Greatmore Studios (47-49 Greatmore Street, Woodstock).

Thanks again to everyone involved, and who made the exhibition and the workshop possible. Thanks to our sponsors: Exposure Gallery, Greatmore Studios, M-Photo, Orms, Vitamin Water, the National Arts Council of South Africa, Lomography SA.


Two of the exhibition viewers. We had a wonderful turnout, and I believe all the (many) people who came took something special with them, whether it be in their hearts, minds, or soul.


Fernando let us borrow Annabella for the opening. She's the trusty watchdog for Exposure Gallery in the Old Biscuit Mill. Check out the gallery for your very own lomographic camera, or to have a look at all the other funky stuff they have.


Two of my series on planks against the pillar in the middle


A lomographic wall from all 8 artist's lomographic prints, and lomographic 'tube' by Nicholas Coutts.


Janet Botes, "Subtle Play". Lomographs of Land Art, shot with a Holga. And
Ali Jacobs, fisheye shot in 'cord frame'.


Janet Botes, "Memory Tree", Mixed media work - tree made of wire and used negative rolls. About 60cm tall.


Janet Botes, "World through a lens", Mixed media work on a collage/hockney of lomographic prints. 130cm x 45cm.