The Carinus Annex on Donkin Street is hosting seven different artists with unique and interesting pieces of art for the duration of the National Arts Festival.
The Carinus Annex on Donkin Street is hosting seven different artists with unique and interesting pieces of art for the duration of the National Arts Festival.
The exhibition is open from 9am to 5pm and welcomes anyone with an eye for art.
Johannesburg conceptual artist Lynette van Tonder speaks passionately about her “Covered” exhibition and explains how the concept was inspired by how people cover up abuse and the result of constantly covering abuse.
“What happens subsequently, because you cover it up and pretend that it doesn’t happen, there is subsequent abuse,” she explains/
Van Tonder, who started working on her art pieces in 2009, describes the draping in her work as a representation of how covering up abuse can lead to loss of identity and a false sense of protection.
One of Van Tonder’s favourite pieces in her “Covered” exhibition is “Comfort Zone”, which was the first oil painting she did for this series.
The painting of an armchair draped in white cloth with a black pillow on top of it represents how comfortable people get, not dealing with serious problems.
Paul Bokvel Smit, who is exhibiting his work at the Festival for the third time, is also part of the exhibition.
The Port Elizabeth-based artist is showing his collection, “Subliminal Commerce”, at the Carinus Annex on Donkin Street.
His extremely diverse and surprisingly affordable collection is attracting the attention of festival-goers of all ages.
“Art doesn’t get recognition in the commercial world,” said Smit, explaining the motivation behind the name of his collection. He highlighted art’s awkward position between being a commercial product and a form of expression.
This mentality is very visible in his piece, “Give Thanks for What You Have”, a three-dimensional artwork which Smit claims represents modern consumer culture.
“We waste; we spend on what we don’t need,” he expands. The piece contains painted juice boxes in the place of a human heart.
