To teach in ways that teach us to care for the soul, Visual Art
Venue: New Gallery
Next Walkabout: Thursday 5 July 11:00
Review
By Konke Welaphi
Nyakallo Maleke, the Standard Bank Youth Award Winner for Visual Arts, allowed us a moment to explore what our intuition told us about the work that she had on display. While explaining why she chose to put her work on a metal frame as opposed to up on a wall, she said that instead of just interacting with the work using our eyes only, we also use our body.
This had a significant impact on the rest of the walkabout as Maleke explained further that when it comes to drawing she retraces her steps to her everyday activities. Everything that we do and how we move about creates a flow and she retraces that flow and explores it on wax paper or whatever it may be that she encounters. Even items we no longer find useful – such as toilet paper rolls, clothing tags, plastic bags – can be repurposed and made into something else. The shaping of the frame was done by Daniel Bruce Gray. Maleke says she didn’t give him much to work with – all she said was that she would like it to resemble tree roots and how they flow into and over things around them. This created an exceptional effect that allowed the viewer’s intuition to lead their own interpretation of the work.
Through this process, Maleke led us to the drawing room where we could get a feel of what it is like during her process, allowing us into the gates of her mind and how she unlocks the creative flow. Everyone who participated created their own piece that retraces their movements. The walkabout was truly an experience like no other. This is a wholesome route to care for your soul by doing something that feels right for you. By trusting your own intuition you can create something you experience in your own unique way.
