The Other Art Fair - New York Edition

The Other Art Fair, presented by leading online gallery Saatchi Art, is a unique platform for artists to exhibit and sell directly to a new audience. Established in London, this traveling art fair has managed 20 editions around the world and I was lucky enough to book my spot for the inaugural New York Edition. The fair was held in Brooklyn Expo Centre, 1-4 June and housed 110 emerging artists. 

I created 10 large pieces, some abstract, some figurative but each of them highly patterned, bright, bold and had an authentic Afrikan aesthetic. The Fair encourages prints, in addition, to appeal to a wider customer base. Since my medium is incredibly tactile, I decided to create 30 little original artworks instead which could be sold for under $100. I had the most amazing experience... chatting to art enthusiasts, making new artist friends, selling art of course and even meeting clients who had bought from me prior to the fair. The city was intoxicating and will inspire me until my next visit. I’LL BE BACK NYC :)

Morphogenesis

In the current global and political climate, religion has been the scapegoat for myriad of ills. It has been used by the powerful to force an agenda and used by the weak to mend fences. Throughout history humans have relied on both religion and politics to push humanity forward. Whatever the belief system, whether one is religious or not… the essence of all religions has always been peace, love and compassion. Lately, we have allowed leaders and followers of religions to highlight rules and rituals they deem important rather than just learn for ourselves if we so choose. For this exhibition I have chosen to focus on the Abrahamic religions of Christianity, Islam and Judaism. These religions are so similar and yet are in constant struggle for dominance all over the world. I have been inspired by a medieval time in Al Andulus when these religions flourished due to creative and cultural exchange. Centuries of political and religious cooperation lead to Al Andulus being a beacon of learning and progress in maths, science and astronomy. The arts and architecture of the time spread throughout Europe and Africa. I have chosen to focus of the beauty of religious buildings, not the ornamentation or decoration but the walls, the windows and the floors. The use of symmetry, geometry and symbolic repeats create a pristine beauty that is not offensive to either of the religious sects. The essence of these buildings, and the religions that they house are its true beauty.

Follow the Tickey

Title : Follow the Tickey
Materials : 18417 pieces of ABS plastic building blocks
Dimensions : 2010 x 2010 x 35

For The Puncture Points exhibition, I created a 2 meter by 2 meter piece focusing on the way energy travels throughout the city on an average workday. The map of Cape Town utilizes specific colours to demarcate regions, types of transportation and places of interest. This piece highlights the sheer workforce coming from townships everyday moving around the city towards the CBD all day. The ’Tickey’ was the smallest currency of South Africa in the 1900s. This piece shows how the poorest populations are forced to travel the furthest for the least amount of money on a daily basis to make ends meet. Because of the key, its scale and detail allowed, people will be able to stand in front of the piece and trace their daily routes... making them realise how vital they are to the energy of the city. 

Tessellat: Afrika

Title : Tesselat: Afrika
Materials : 8122 pieces of ABS plastic building blocks
Dimensions : 1950 x 1660 x 25

Within Tesselat: Afrika I accentuate our roots and interconnectedness by creating bands of pattern stretching horizontally across the entirety of the African continent, ignoring man made borders and country partitions.

At first glance one notices the simplified silhouette of Africa as a beautiful bold shape. The medium creates a perfectly glassy effect but upon closer inspection one notices cracks, gaps in our history and in ourselves. This is all necessary as the journey in itself is part of the beauty. The intricate patterns that span across the continent highlight details relating to our heritage, history and culture. Whether the mix of colours relate to the flag of ones origins or a pattern native to ones lineage or jewellery passed down for generations, the essence of the pattern is always African. You can feel it when you look at it, you feel connected to it, not always certain why. 

Amalgam Series

Title : Amalgam
Materials : 10224 pieces of ABS plastic building blocks (series)
Dimensions : 1100 x 2070 x 25 (h x l x w in mm + 30mm gap between)

This Amalgam series focuses on the concept of collaboration. The idea being that two people sharing knowledge, skills and ideas will create something infinitely more beautiful than each person could individually create. Add a third person and its pure magic.

Ephemeral Series

Title : Ephemeral
Materials : 14140 pieces of ABS plastic building blocks (series)
Dimensions : 1100 x 2770 x 25 (h x l x w in mm + 30mm gap between)

This Ephemeral series recreates the visual journey of a day in the life of an artist.  This series uses 14140 pieces of plastic building blocks to highlight the creative process of wading through the blur of endless ideas and hazy daily distractions yet somehow finding that burst of focus in which creativity thrives. This clarity is not limited to standard office hours and often is heightened during the supreme hours namely midnight, dawn, noon and dusk. At first glance this rectangle appears simply inspired by the colours of its external environment to a glassy perfection. Upon closer inspection one notices intricate details relating to heritage, history, culture and the stresses that come with choosing a creative life. Whether it’s the flag of ones origins or a pattern native to ones lineage, the essence of the artist will always be woven into the work.

Tessellat: Rectangular

Title : Tessellat: Rectangular
Materials : 14 208 pieces of plastic building blocks
Dimensions : 1420 x 1820 x 25mm

Displayed at ‘A New Wave’ exhibition at Southern Guild gallery Cape Town until 23 September 2016 (sold).
        
This piece uses 14 208 pieces of plastic building blocks to produce & highlight the art of tessellation. Tessellation is a highly symmetric, edge-to-edge tiling using a simple shape to create intricate patterns, usually done with porcelain or ceramic cuttings. This piece hopes to recreate that art form in a modern way. The colours and patterns are inspired by a variety of African crafts e.g. basket weaving, beadwork and wax prints. Coming from a country with such a rich mixed heritage, it’s a constant struggle to find an authentic African identity that appeals to and unites South Africans. At first glance this rectangle appears beautifully simple, but upon closer inspection the intricate details relating to our heritage become apparent in the combination of colours that make up the flag or pattern formation common in ones culture.