The first Rhodes University Residency for Artists and Writers (RAW EC) exhibition opens tonight, Thursday 16 October at the Albany History Museum, Alumni Gallery at 5.30 pm.
The first Rhodes University Residency for Artists and Writers (RAW EC) exhibition opens tonight, Thursday 16 October at the Albany History Museum, Alumni Gallery at 5.30 pm.
The exhibition, curated by Professor Ruth Simbao, displays the works of two artists who took part in a two month residency programme at Rhodes University earlier this year.
Igshaan Adams, from Cape Town and Mbali Khoza of Wits University have produced an experimental exhibition entitled SLIP which playfully explores notions of language, the slip of the tongue and ideas of implicit influence on the subconscious.
Both artists have worked independently from each other, exploring these intertwining themes concerning the self, to produce this thought-provoking exhibition.
“I’m hugely impressed with what they have done in only 2 months,” said Simbao. Simbao was concerned about whether or not bringing the two artists together in one exhibition would work, but she explained that the “amazing connections” and “conceptual overlaps” they discovered brought the two together seamlessly.
Adams explores how environments (including people, mental structures and materials) influence identity formation. Using found objects, his artwork explores influence and the constant exchange between the internal and external. He asks the question, “how does environment play a part in who we ultimately become?”
Drawing from the controversial Rorschach inkblot tests, he explores psychological diagnostics within the structure of inkblots. He explains that his work explores “projecting, being projected on, internalising and exposing the underlying psyche.
Khoza’s work is concerned with language and the mother tongue – the loss of the mother tongue, the slip of the tongue and the potential violence of language. She takes inspiration from other artists who have explored similar ideas before her.
Her work draws on the language of art-making, presentation and translation – how the artist has a degree of control over interpretation. Khoza avoids the gallery notion of framing as she looks at studio practice – art in the raw.
“A different engagement leads to different ways of looking,” Khoza explained.
“I am always asking questions in my work,” she said, which rings true for both artists in this exhibition.
The exhibition will be on view until Friday 24 October 2014
