Senses of the Seasons
Hosted by The Leap Collective, in collaboration with Gallery One11, a collective of young artists (Nicolene Burger, Livia Schneider and Aren Schneider) curated the first in a series of experimental art experiences, on the 6th of June 2019. 'Senses of the Seasons' was a sensory event with light, sound and scents inspired by the colder months. Audience members, along with artists and performers participated in creating a cozy art space in the heart of Cape Town.
Considering autumn as a time for harvesting from your hard work- a time of abundance and celebration, but also a time when the Earth prepares for the restorative rest of winter- we created an immersive space to sit down in creative communion. Considering winter offers time to cultivate new energy required for the life that will continue bearing fruits in the warmer months, we invited young creatives to share the ideas they haven't had the platform for before. By choosing this Earthy relationship between autumn and winter, where everything old dies to create space for new beauty to be born, as theme 'Senses of the Seasons', starts of a series of new suggestions on how to view and become part of art.
We will be creating a whole calendar of multi-sensory art evenings, movement drawing workshops and artist talks. If you want to be part of this platform, that will continue to grow and change as artists contribute, please contact us through Gallery One11's Facebook or Instagram page.
‘Letsopa le kgobja le sa le metse, la oma le hlaba.’
Clay is taken out while it’s still soft; allowed to be dry it begins to prick.
by King Debs
a) Problems are better solved while they are still fresh.
b) It is easier to instil discipline and moral values in a child whilst they are young, because as they get older, they develop their own ways of navigating the world.
King Debs is an emerging South African artist who specializes in multimedia art and design after attaining a Bachelor’s Degree in Multimedia Design and Technology at the Tshwane University of Technology in 2010.His current work illustrates his profound interest for African identity, scriptoria, handstyles and indigenous ideographics. As a multimedia artist, King Debs is accustomed to using different media ranging from 3D digital art, calligraphy and motion capture.
"My unique calligraphy style is a synthesis of glyphs and scripts that I have been developing for the past couple of years. I mostly write in my mother-tongue, which is Setswana. The language is mostly found in the North West parts of South Africa and Botswana. My calligraphy script itself is a response and transposition of the rich oral tradition of the Bantu people. Through the medium of handwriting, this allows me to assert an aesthetic that allows me to bridge the gap between the past, present, and contemplate the future. The calligraphy itself allows me to encrypt the ancient words that I'm writing, while offering a space for them to be experienced by others. I believe it is very important to keep our Elders’ ancient knowledge alive, as much as it's important to keep it sacred. One realizes the importance of identity through language, as certain proverbs and mantras resonate better in their indigenous dialects. This is how our elders have been passing knowledge from one generation to the next. For this wall, I freestyled using a calligraphy handstyle. Usually I write about what interests me at the moment, which is African proverbs at this point in time. I chose this Sepedi proverb, because it reflects my state of mind which is connected to problem solving, an ongoing study of mindfulness, values and discipline. The meaning of the proverb itself can be applied to everyday experiences, which resonate with the viewer. I am currently exploring, (un)learning and unpacking my language (Setswana). The calligraphy allows me to rediscover my mother-tongue, and have contemporary dialogues about it, even in foreign places, connecting to the source of my language through art."
Poplap
by Annamieke Engelbrecht
“Poplap” taps into the childlike aspect of Annamieke Engelbrecht’s personality, responding in a somewhat childish way to the phrase: “what is art”. As most abstract artists can attest to someone telling them: “my child can draw better than this”, Engelbrecht invited the audience to lie on the floor and draw with materials mostly used by children. Participates were rewarded with stars and candy and encouraged to share their work with other viewers. The art they created together was taped on the gallery wall and essentially became part of the gallery’s exhibition. By creating a playful settling, the aim of this piece is to take the audience back to when they were little and sat on the carpet, creating art.” Decompartmentalizing the way art is approached in the “adult” world, by showcasing “children’s art” created by adults, Poplap speaks to the accessibility and enjoyment of creating art that is not taken to seriously.
Sense Installations by Nicolene Burger and Livia Schneider
Light Art by Nicolene Burger
Live Art by Annamieke Engelbrecht and King Debs
Music by Aren Schneider
Event Design by Nicolene Burger
Coordination by Livia Schneider and Nicolene Burger
Photographs by Chris Grava and Klaré van Heerden