Collection of genres shows off a ‘passion’ for diversity

A VISITOR from Gauteng viewing this gem of an exhibition at the Floradale Fine Art gallery commented: “It’s good to see some real art for a change.”

The exhibition, curated by Glenda Gendall, comprises Eastern Cape artists – under the theme My Passion – who explore a diversity of genres.

They range from traditional art such as: oil on canvas, photography with a camera from the middle of the last century, stained glass art and small figurative ceramics.

There are also some innovative and new techniques such as Greg Schultz’s large and impressive night landscape, evocative of a mysterious night with the heat of the day still lingering in highly textured rocks.

Pierre de Villiers, more commonly known for his jewellery, has ventured into intimate revelations of light and waves breaking using a method of printing onto Perspex.

Another jeweller, who trades her unique pieces internationally is Hela Bonnell whose selection includes brooches, rings and necklaces made of silver and semi-precious stones.

Rose Warren, the “glue” (quoting Dick Latimer) and innovator of the art gallery, departs from her usual paintings inspired by the wild and natural of the Eastern Cape, and launches into an abstract expression.

Drawn from her spiritual understanding of life as she perceives it, she presents her work as a triptych which has great strength and beautiful brushwork.

One of the young artists, Buntu Qina, has three landscapes which evoke the traditional atmosphere of rural Eastern Cape.

Qina interprets light in a particular way which photographers commonly understand as the “best time of the day” – very early morning or late afternoon.

Another young artist is Daniel Mooy whose strong painting is a life size figure, and which was on the Atelier Awards exhibition locally.

Judy Fish exhibits seascapes, created with ink and watercolour. She has developed her own unique style of line and wash which evokes an atmospheric effect, with waves, wind and skies.

Jen Rowland produces small, colourfully rendered landscapes in pencil crayons which translate into interesting larger oils on canvas.

Brett Gendall offers some very interesting monochromatic photographs which pick up the texture and atmosphere of his subjects.

They can be missed if one does not dwell on them and appreciate the subtleties and deeper vision that comes through, such as in Uprooted.

Ceramics feature strongly, with a variety of well conceived shapes of pots by John Steele. He includes simply designed plates which, in a group, create a bold mural.

Another ceramicist, Diana Castle, presents powerful small figurative pieces inspired by San cave paintings which combine animals and human forms.

Her concept is that of “the animal becoming human or the human becoming animal” and speaks of the animal within humans and how humans suppress this.

She has a keen understanding of anatomy as well as movement in space – as in her theme, “The Dance”.

Glenda Gendall displays a sequence of stained glass assemblages, which she calls “Altar Pieces”.

She uses light, colour and shape sensitively and with a balance that is very pleasing. She has also put on some mirrors with stained glass designs, which have an art deco feel .

The quality of this exhibition is high and one has a sense of pride in what is being produced in the Eastern Cape.

Despite the economic climate, a number of the artworks have been sold.

•  The exhibition is still on and around end of July.