ON FORM

(“Disparate Housewife” by Robin Opperman and the Umcebo Trust)

On Form, an exhibition to honour the life and work of Durban artist Martin Burnett who died in December 2011, will be held at The COLLECTIVE in Durban from May 7.

The KZN visual arts community have rallied together to create the works for this exhibition to pay tribute to this popular artist, teacher and collector. Burnett was known for finding interesting objects - “treasures that the city had discarded,” as fellow artist Dee Donaldson called them - with the intention of transforming them into art. He had collected 30 paper machè mannequin busts which 30 KZN artists will re-interpret, decorate and re-imagine. These busts will form a major part of the exhibition.

Complementing the busts will be works by Burnett, and works for - and of - Burnett – including Jackie Freer's painting of the artist from the artSPACE durban Inspiration 2 Exhibition.

“My students and I shared a studio at artSPACE durban with Martin for many years,” remembers Dee Donaldson. “To talk about collage or mixed media would seem too dry to describe Martin’s process. When he assembled or grouped things together; a poetic dialogue began between texture, words, fragments, colours, tones and shapes. Stories about time, personal histories and forgotten things emerge, … There was the sensitivity of Martin the painter in the arrangements, but also very often, the evidence of his lovely sense of humour. To have seen the world this way is a rare and beautiful thing,”

Robin Opperman of Umcebo Trust shared studio space with Martin Burnett in the early years of the Trust’s work.

“Some thought Martin was a ‘hoarder’, but I would call him a ‘collector’,” says Opperman. “Martin collected compulsively, but what made the collecting really worthwhile for him, was that he could share his collection and help other artists when they felt down, or just without direction. Often we would be making a piece of work, and we would be unsure if we were on the right track, Martin would saunter over, with a cup of tea, and a tray of found objects, and after a good chat, and incorporating the treasures he had brought us, we were on our way again. The torso we have decorated for the benefit is about Martin’s presence, generosity and positive influence in our creative work and lives. We chose the title Disparate Housewife because the word disparate means “Things so unlike that there is no basis for comparison” and we feel that Martin often found a use and purpose for “disparate” objects in his work and life. I often think Martin understood us and our work, before we did. The piece is about a celebration of bright colours, and found objects. We hope to capture some of the fun, laughter and creative inspiration that Martin so generously gave to us, at just the right time, in our development. Umcebo Design is in its current form, through the creative generosity and support of people like Martin.”

On Form opens at The Collective, 48b Florida Road, Durban on May 7. More information from Amy-Jo Windt: the COLLECTIVE Gallery Curator on 031 303 4891 or 082 711 4465.