NICOLE PLETTS IN MUIZENBERG

KZN artist Nicole Pletts is showing her work alongside that of Makiwa Mutomba and various other artists at the beautiful Casa Labia Centre in Muizenberg which was built in 1929 to reflect the spirit of 18th century Venice.

Titled Intimate Surfaces - An Artsidein Exhibition shows Nicole Pletts’s male figure studies in the form of swimming pool divers depicted balancing on diving boards and flying high in aerial gymnastics. Makiwa shows a lively, colourful series of "happy babies" portraits, all done in his signature, palette-knife, fractured technique.

Nicole Pletts started painting in 1997 and has been involved in many art groups: Arts Interactive Committee for five years, KWAZUNVA Executive Committee for two years and the KZNSA Council since 2006. She has participated in various group shows and was a finalist in Jabulisa 2006 and in SASOL New Signatures 2009.

“Whilst I am deliberate in constantly being aware of my surroundings, I don't intentionally choose to paint a specific subject,” Pletts explains. “The subject matter chooses me. It sort of lingers and ignites - and a series is born. With the Diving Series, it was the movement, the "floating" in space and obviously the figures (which are my favourite subject matter) which caught my attention. I painted them in a bold, strong way which lends itself to the fearless and daring way they jump from such heights – and then they float, move, twist and gracefully fall in a vacuum of space.""


The exhibition runs on the upper floor of the Muizenberg gallery until October 11.

The Casa Labia Cultural Centre is situated at 192 Main Road, Muizenberg, Cape Town. More information on 021 788 6068.