(“Woman Bathing” - Detail
by Marianne Meijer)
Bren Brophy, Independent
Arts and Culture Activator of the Executive Committee of the Friends of the
Durban Art Gallery, talks about Marianne Meijer’s solo exhibition at Rivertown:
The Durban Art Gallery (DAG) is presenting Rembrandt – A love affair, a solo
exhibition of portraits by Durban artist Marianne Meijer. It’s an exhibition of
landmarks; the exhibition opened on May 28, Meijer’s 80th birthday.
The exhibition also launches a new Durban Art Gallery
exhibition space - the Rivertown Gallery housed in a newly-renovated section of
the historic Durban Beer Hall. The Rivertown Gallery initiative is spot on
international trend – the activation of semi-industrial urban spaces using arts
and culture that bring lifeblood to the cultural heart of the city that contain
both heritage collections and contemporary practice. It is fitting then that
the DAG has chosen to unveil this ‘renewal space’ with a showing by one of
Durban’s most recognised veteran artists.
Marianne Meijer has for more than three decades been the
voice of the local art world in her bi-monthly newspaper commentaries, she’s
the lifelong Vice-President of the KwaZulu–Natal Society of Arts and this is
her 5th solo exhibition. By reflecting on a new body of work by this
experienced artist, the DAG celebrates not only its history and transformation
in a new democracy but also its commitment to the future. Heritage is not a
static thing. History and the future coexist comfortably in this exhibition
which in turn hangs contentedly on the new walls of a historic Durban
building. If you want to know the future,
look back.
Art pundits will know that Meijer has always painted faces.
What we did not know was her love affair with Rembrandt. Meijer is
unapologetically Dutch. She remembers growing up as a young girl under the Nazi
boot, she remembers her father’s letter from a concentration camp, she
remembers leaving for South Africa, and she remembers the Dutch master
Rembrandt.
Meijer’s painting has always been dark. Serious painting is
not something that can be learned casually. “The task of the artist is to make
the human being uncomfortable.” - Lucien
Freud.
This new body of work is a series that is Meijer’s response
to meticulously researched and observed works by Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn
(1606–1669) who embraced realism and innovative technique to become one of the
greatest artists of all time.
Meijer paints faces and figures that are departures from
traditional portraiture. Her interest lies in inventing variations and
exploring expressive effect rather than mere depictions. Details become blurred
through manipulation of the medium often to the point of abstraction. What is
captured is the subtlety and enormous range of human emotion that makes each of
us unique yet sharing a common humanity. She abandons the realistic image and
chooses a new way of ‘seeing’ with the mind’s eye – a process of inward
introspection and intuition that give these works their unique power to move
and engage the viewer. Rather like Rembrandt's subjects who emerge out of the
shadows, bathed brightly in a dramatic and theatrical light.
Meijer’s learning from the knowledge of these masterpieces
is an extension of her achievement. “If you wish to study the works of another
artist make sure that he or she is competent. Never demean your efforts because
you think you are not in a class with Rembrandt.” – Richard Schmid.
A must see exhibition.
Bren Brophy, Independent Arts and Culture Activator, Executive
Committee Friends of the Durban Art gallery
Rembrandt – A love
affair runs in the Rivertown Gallery until July 5. Gallery hours are Monday
to Friday from 08h30 to 16h00. For more information contact Thulani Makhaye on 031
311 2268 or Jenny Stretton on 031 3327 286. Rivertown Gallery is situated at 102
-120 Florence Nzama Road (formerly Prince Alfred).
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