UCA GALLERY, 46 Lower Main Rd, Observatory, Cape Town
DARK SIDE OF THE MOON
1 July - 24 July 2009
Lycanthropy in Pink, 79 x79 cm, Mixed media on canvas, 2009, J.M. Grey
A group exhibition of artists who choose to use traditional media for expression in inventive and innovative ways, ‘exploring the unknown’ so to speak. The artists featured will be Christiaan Diedericks, Julia Mary Grey, Wonder Marthinus, Albert Coertse, Shani Ame Nel, Conor Ralphs, Hannalie Taute and Theo Kleynhans.
Because of the fact that we never get to see the 'dark side of the moon’ as the moon’s rate of rotation has become (almost) synchronized with its orbit, it has become synonymous with the unknown and unexplored places of ones own imagination. The unknown factor that exists and permeates everything but which cannot be explained and which is veiled from conventional conscious knowledge. Certain artists in the past and present have always found it necessary to explore this 'other’, unknown/sub-conscious side of themselves and their imagination, and in so doing have created works that can be playful, fantastic or dark and ominous.
Being freed from the necessity of depicting the world in a traditional naturalistic way by new forms of media like photography and film, artists have been able to explore and offer new forms/shapes and imaginary landscapes and in so doing find new ways of expressing the subconscious world (which is another symbolic link/association that we have given to the moon - the dream world) and fantasy worlds.
In dark side of the moon the selected artists all have this quality of exploring and experimenting, be it visually or conceptually, by using the traditional mediums in a new and exciting way, pushing the boundaries of the imagination and giving us new insight as to what art can potentially be or should be, perhaps, to test the limits of the imagination.
Neil Nieuwoudt
The exhibition will open Wednesday evening at 6pm on the 1st of July and close on the 24th of July 2009. Refreshments will be served.