(Works by Marianne
Meijer, Pascale Chandler & Nicole Pletts)
New Work II is one
of three new exhibitions opening at the KZNSA Gallery next week.
This September, the gallery hosts popular Durban painters
Pascale Chandler, Marianne Meijer and Nicole Pletts as they return to the KZNSA
for their second group exhibition. The trio previously exhibited together at
the KZNSA in the New Work I exhibition in 2011, and, five years
later, they are welcomed them back with an exhibition of acrylic and oil paintings,
showcasing new bodies of work by these three established artists.
Marianne Meijer describes her new work as an extension of
previous explorations of the expressive and humanistic, as opposed to the
figurative and literal depiction typical of the portrait genre. She suggests
the collection could be loosely subtitled, Sculpture
in Paint.
Pascale Chandler's new Tang
Horse series is inspired by the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907), a period often
considered the golden age of literature and art. Horses have been a theme in
Chandler's work for many years, and the catalyst for the current series was the
artist encountering the Chinese Warrior collection at Gateway. She explains, "I am exploring the
ornate, heavily adorned quality of these plump ceramic horse sculptures. The Cameo Oval collection reduces the
presence of the horse, allowing the gold leaf surface to dominate the subject.
The seven oil paintings are spatial and the centred compositions create an
iconic presence. The theatrical space is clad with unexpected graffiti tags. I
have been documenting and harvesting graffiti on my morning walks in the
Glenwood area. The signage is a subtle yet poignant reminder of urban decay and
the need for personalized colonization of public spaces and property. Seven
paintings representing seven days of the week."
Nicole Pletts titles the portraits of nuns she has created Portraits of a Declining Calling. The
world, she explains, is an increasingly selfish and self-absorbent place where
honesty and integrity is few and far between - placed on a pedestal rather than
accepted as the norm. The world shouts me, me, me... I want, I want, I want...
More, more, more! Nuns take vows of chastity, obedience and poverty. A life
without physical touch and love, a life without a family, cellphone, computer
or wifi; no TV, no fashion, no alcohol and no travel. In a society where the
promise of sex sells and more is more, one is not surprised at the declining
number of women entering the gentle, giving life of selflessness.Portraits of a Declining Calling are
portraits of seductively attractive nuns whispering to all and sundry - there
is more to life than this...”
New Work II runs
in the KZNSA Main Gallery from September 27 to October 16. The KZNSA Gallery is situated at 166 Bulwer Road, Glenwood,
in Durban. More
information on 031 277 1705, fax 031 201 8051 or cell 082 220 0368 or visit www.kznsagallery.co.za
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