Mapping between the maps
Blank spaces is the theme of this year's KKNK cultural festival in Oudtshoorn. In tapping into this creative idea, the Absa Gallery will host an exclusive exhibition at the festival titled Mapping between the maps, showcasing a collection of provocative works from some of SA's top young and emerging artists.
Curator Stephan Erasmus says the exhibition will feature a total of 16 artists, all drawn from a high-calibre pool of this year's top 100 finalists as well as winners from previous Barclays L'Atelier (previously, Absa L'Atelier) art competitions.
The works explore the fascinating subject of 'mapping between the maps', or the act of mapping the blank spaces that exist between existing maps.
Visitors can expect to see a full range of contemporary visual arts, from photographic works to sculptures, all of which interrogate the idea of maps, mapping lives through memories, using maps as narratives and the evolution of maps into different things.
The full list of participating artists includes Ruan Coleman, Elrie Joubert (overall 2012 Barclays L'Atelier winner), Mandy Johnson, Eljana van der Merwe, Cassim Zarah, Ronel de Jager, Thami Mbenekazi, Solomon Moremong, Sethembile Msezane, Paul Senyol, Andrew Sprawson, Jan Maanda Tshikhuthula, Jaco van Schalkwyk (2013 Barclays L'Atelier Merit Award winner), Philswa Lila (2010 Barclays L'Atelier Merit Award winner), Marlise Keith and Mongezi Nchaphayi (2013 Barclays L'Atelier Gerard Sekoto winner).
Absa's exhibition at the KKNK every year is just one of the platforms of support it offers young and emerging artists coming through its annual Barclays L'Atelier art competition. In addition to this exhibition, finalists are also invited to participate in additional group exhibitions and the competition winners are hosted in solo exhibitions at the Absa Gallery.
Date: 24 March 2016 to 30 March 2016Venue: Prince Vincent Building, Oudtshoorn
More info:
KKNK festival, Absa Gallery Prince Vincent Building in Oudtshoorn