In this solo exhibition at 99 Loop, Cape Town-based Ilené Bothma
portraits painstakingly stitched on antique handkerchiefs. This process is
celebrates what she calls a ‘weird marriage’ – between the artistic and
a reflection on the repetitive nature of our daily lives. As she explains,
domestic self, between fine art and craft materials, and between critical
‘The home self experiences the relationships and lives in the domestic
distance and emotional experience.
space, whereas the artistic self analyses them’.
This collection of paintings, soft sculptures and installation pieces is a
Through the use of strange materials and combinations, re-imagining
continuation of Bothma’s previous work, which deals with issues of
stockings as skins and thread as fine cracks in our façades, Bothma asks us
female and domestic relationships, through an uncanny distortion of the
to question our own comfort, and perhaps feel discomfort with the
familiar and comfortable.
quotidian and identify with the metaphorical layers of lace and knitted masks she wears in her own work.
To explore the interactions between the private and public roles of women, Bothma combines both traditional fine art media, such as
Ilené Bothma was born in Port Elizabeth. She received a BFA (with
watercolour, with techniques more often regarded as craft, like
distinction) in 2003 and an MFA in 2007, both degrees from Stellenbosch
embroidery, sewing and knitting. All her work, though, is labour-
University. She received a second MFA (with distinction) in 2011 from
intensive, with lace masks hand-painted in incredibly fine detail, and
Northumbria University in the United Kingdom.
IlenĂŠ Bothma Fool's Copper, 2017 Archival print on paper with imitation copper leaf 59h x 40.50w cm IB00117A R 8,500.00
IlenĂŠ Bothma Mid-Morning Slump I, 2017 Painted ceramic plates 27h x 17.50w cm IB01717A R 3,000.00
IlenĂŠ Bothma Mid-Morning Slump II, 2017 Painted ceramic plates 30h x 24w cm IB01817A R 3,500.00
IlenĂŠ Bothma Fool's Gold, 2017 Archival print on paper with imitation gold leaf 59h x 40.50w cm IB00217A R 8,500.00
IlenĂŠ Bothma When the cracks start to show I Archival print on paper with embroidery 59h x 40.50w cm IB00317A R 8,500.00
IlenĂŠ Bothma When the cracks start to show II, 2017 Archival print on paper with embroidery 59h x 40.50w cm IB00517A R 8,500.00
IlenĂŠ Bothma Between the devil & the deep blue sea, 2017 Archival print on paper with embroidery 33h x 26w cm IB00617A
IlenĂŠ Bothma When the chickens come home to roost, 2017 Archival print on paper with embroidery 33h x 26w cm IB00717A
R 3,500.00
R 3,500.00
IlenĂŠ Bothma Under threat of exposure I, 2017 Watercolour on paper 31.50h x 21.50w cm IB00817A R 4,500.00
IlenĂŠ Bothma Under threat of exposure III, 2017 Watercolour on paper 31.50h x 21.50w cm IB00917A R 4,500.00
IlenĂŠ Bothma Under threat of exposure IIV, 2017 Watercolour on paper 31.50h x 21.50w cm IB01017A R 4,500.00
IlenĂŠ Bothma Under threat of exposure V, 2017 Watercolour on paper 31.50h x 21.50w cm IB01117A R 4,500.00
IlenĂŠ Bothma The Deep End, 2017 Mixed media 70h x 140w x 105d cm IB01617A R 12,000.00
IlenĂŠ Bothma Under threat of exposure V, 2017 Watercolour on paper 31.50h x 21.50w cm IB01217A R 4,500.00
IlenĂŠ Bothma Under threat of exposure VI, 2017 Watercolour on paper 31.50h x 21.50w cm IB01317A R 4,500.00
IlenĂŠ Bothma Mother's Milk, 2017 Oil on canvas 100h x 80w cm IB01417A R 18,000.00
IlenĂŠ Bothma When Medusa Went Home, 2017 Mixed media Dimensions variable IB01517A R 18,000.00
IlenĂŠ Bothma Putting one's best foot forward Archival print on paper with embroidery 59h x 40.50w cm IB00417A R 8,500.00
IlenĂŠ Bothma Mid-Morning Slump III Painted ceramic plates 25.50h x 17.50w cm IB01917A R 3,000.00
IlenĂŠ Bothma Mid-Morning Slump IV Painted ceramic plates 27h x 17.50w cm IB02017A R 3,000.00
IlenĂŠ Bothma There's No Place Like Home I Embroidery on handkerchief 25h x 28.50w cm IB02717A R 5,500.00
IlenĂŠ Bothma Mid-Morning Slump V Painted ceramic plates 23.50h x 17.50w cm IB02117A R 3,000.00
IlenĂŠ Bothma Mid-Morning Slump VI Painted ceramic plates 25.50h x 17.50w cm IB02217A R 3,000.00
IlenĂŠ Bothma There's No Place Like Home II Embroidery on handkerchief 26h x 26.50w cm IB02817A R 5,000.00
IlenĂŠ Bothma There's No Place Like Home III Embroidery on handkerchief 22.50h x 22w cm IB02917A R 5,000.00
IlenĂŠ Bothma Mid-Morning Slump VIII, 2017 Painted ceramic plates 25.50h x 17.50w cm IB02417A R 3,000.00
IlenĂŠ Bothma Mid-Morning Slump IX, 2017 Painted ceramic plates 29h x 23.50w cm IB02517A R 3,500.00
IlenĂŠ Bothma There's No Place Like Home IV Embroidery on handkerchief 21.50h x 23w cm IB03017A R 5,000.00
IlenĂŠ Bothma There's No Place Like Home V Embroidery on handkerchief 25h x 27w cm IB03117A R 5,000.00
IlenĂŠ Bothma All That Glitters, 2017 Mixed media 175h x 38w x 7d cm IB03217A R 5,000.00
IlenĂŠ Bothma Memento Mori (copper edition) XXX Mixed media 11h x 19.50w x 16.50d cm IB03417A
IlenĂŠ Bothma Memento Mori (copper edition) V Mixed media 11h x 19.50w x 16.50d cm IB03717A
R 1,500.00
R 1,500.00
IlenĂŠ Bothma Memento Mori (copper edition) I Mixed media IB03517A 11h x 19.50w x 16.50d cm
IlenĂŠ Bothma Memento Mori (copper edition) IV Mixed media 11h x 19.50w x 16.50d cm IB03617A
R 1,500.00
R 1,500.00
IlenĂŠ Bothma Memento Mori (copper edition) VI Mixed media 11h x 19.50w x 16.50d cm IB03817A
IlenĂŠ Bothma Memento Mori (copper edition) VII Mixed media 11h x 19.50w x 16.50d cm IB03917A
R 1,500.00
R 1,500.00