(“Travel” - Ink on
photograph by Samantha Boock)
Seeking Permanence In
A Transient World is an exhibition by Sam Boock currently running at
artSPACE durban.
According to Zygmunt Bauman, a Polish sociologist,
‘contemporary society can be defined as a “Liquid Society”: one that is in
constant change’. Boock’s work questions the western notion of desiring
permanence; for things to stay constant, stable and controllable, when in
reality, we understand that it cannot be achieved as we are transient.
Boock’s work attempts to gain a sense of permanence, by
capturing people onto photographs. The use of the photograph as a ‘canvas’
already has its own history and context; it has a captured moment on it, to be
remembered forever, or, for as long as the image or photographic paper exists.
In the work, images of people have been physically ‘scarred’ into the
photograph’s surface, forcing the permanent embedment of the person into the
medium. The photographs have been stained, bleached or scratched to reveal the
person that has been captured.
The images rendered are of people that Boock has or has had
a relationship with in some form, exploring the transience of relationships or
her own transience. The work attempts to keep these figures in her life longer
than in reality. The viewer, however, ‘passes through’ these images, just as
Boock has with the people depicted.
The exhibition runs alongside graphic design images by
Charlot Boock. Sam and Charlot are sisters. Sam, who is artSPACE’s gallery
assistant, is studying for her Masters Fine Art and Charlot is in 3rd year
Graphic Design, both at Durban University of Technology.
Seeking Permanence In
A Transient World is running until July 28.artSPACE durban
is situated at 3 Millar Road
(off Umgeni Road)
close to the Waste Centre. More information on 031 312 0793 or visit www.artspacedurban.co.za
or www.artspacedurban.blogspot.com
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