Rhetorical finds a new morph in the visual arts. Three artists form three different backgrounds with a common interest in abstract art come together in a display of a body of work. The body of work brings to life the confrontations that each Artists faces in the acceptance of their personal past and the effects it has on them in the present day. Issues of personal identity are explored by unpacking family history and its effects on the identity of the individual. In the present time Boitumelo Gaotlaelwe, Mamorena Malakoane and Pula Ratsoma also find themselves layered with questions, of how the world around them plays a role in a reality of them becoming who they are in the aftermath of confronting a past in an ongoing present time, that can be both forgiving and unforgiving of patience and understanding of the discovery of identity. The exploitation of mark making and colour of expression asks the viewer to assist the Artists to seek answers to questions that the Artists find to be rhetorical in their world but yet struggle to either find true meaning in them or accept the obvious answers. The body of work mirrors the layering of this journey of answers.
Boitumelo Gaotlhaelwe Biography Boitumelo Gaotlhaelwe was born in the North West province in Taung where Raymond Dart made his historical discovery of the earliest skull. In 2009, Gaotlhaelwe enrolled in an art school in Taung, Mmabana Institution for two years, where he majored in drawing and painting. He then moved to Johannesburg. Gaotlhaelwe enrolled at Artist Proof Studio in 2014 and completed the printmaking course in 2016. He has since participated in a number of platforms namely in 2017 a group exhibition titled “Comprehension” at Artist Proof Studio, Turbine Artfair, Johannesburg Artfair in conjunction with Cartier Project. Most recently Gaotlhaelwe was one of the selected to produce an artwork for the Hollard Calender Project. He currently works at Artist Proof Studio as an Assistant Printmaker.
Statement “Rock art painting should meet multiple aims. The processing of this body of work is referencing rock art paintings. Process of degradation, ephemeral that is affecting rock art assemblages. I wonder, how long the life of an artwork is, against the time that fades. Reading from the old paintings the meaning is puzzled and distorted. The story behind the minimalist work can be perceived to be ‘written in backwards’, complex of this matter equals to abstract. Taken from its home of rock art to graffiti in the streets. This can be read as a child’s play but is the process, when one rises against the mind-set of a child you want to draw like a master and once a master you will never get to draw like a child. If we do abstract comes to be.”
Boitumelo Gaothlaelwe - Blue Ticked I - Mixed Medium - 48x68cm - 2019 - R3060.00 Incl.VAT - Edition of 1
Boitumelo Gaothlaelwe - Blue Ticked II - Mixed Medium - 48x68cm - 2019 - R3060.00 Incl.VAT - Edition of 1
Boitumelo Gaothlaelwe - Boxed I - Mixed Medium 26.1x38.5cm - 2019 - R2950.00 Incl.VAT - Edition of 1
Boitumelo Gaothlaelwe - Boxed II - Mixed Medium - 26.1x38.5cm - 2019 - R2950.00 Incl.VAT - Edition of 1
Boitumelo Gaothlaelwe - Boxed III - Mixed Medium - 26.1x38.5cm - 2019 - R2950.00 Incl.VAT - Edition of 1
Boitumelo Gaothlaelwe - Boxed IV - Mixed Medium - 26.1x38.5cm - 2019 - R2950.00 Incl.VAT - Edition of 1
Boitumelo Gaothlaelwe - Boxed V - Mixed Medium - 26.1x38.5cm - 2019 - R2950.00 Incl.VAT - Edition of 1
Boitumelo Gaothlaelwe - Boxed VI - Mixed Medium - 26.1x38.5cm - 2019 - R2950.00 Incl.VAT - Edition of 1
Boitumelo Gaothlaelwe - Boxed VII - Mixed Medium - 26.1x38.5cm - 2019 - R2950.00 Incl.VAT - Edition of 1
Boitumelo Gaothlaelwe - Boxed VIII - Mixed Medium - 26.1x38.5cm - 2019 - R2950.00 Incl.VAT - Edition of 1
Boitumelo Gaothlaelwe - Contained I - Mixed Medium - 54.5x73cm - 2019 - R3590.00 Incl.VAT - Edition of 1
Boitumelo Gaothlaelwe - Contained II - Mixed Medium - 54.5x73cm - 2019 - R3590.00 Incl.VAT - Edition of 1
Boitumelo Gaothlaelwe - Contained III - Mixed Medium - 54.5x73cm - 2019 - R3590.00 Incl.VAT - Edition of 1
Boitumelo Gaothlaelwe - Inbox I - Mixed Medium - 26.1x38.5cm - 2019 - R2950.00 Incl.VAT - Edition of 1
Boitumelo Gaothlaelwe - Inbox II - Mixed Medium - 26.1x38.5cm - 2019 - R2950.00 Incl.VAT - Edition of 1
Boitumelo Gaothlaelwe - Inbox III - Mixed Medium - 26.1x38.5cm - 2019 - R2950.00 Incl.VAT - Edition of 1
Boitumelo Gaothlaelwe - Inbox IV - Mixed Medium - 26.1x38.5cm - 2019 - R2950.00 Incl.VAT - Edition of 1
Boitumelo Gaothlaelwe - Inbox V - Mixed Medium - 26.1x38.5cm - 2019 - R2950.00 Incl.VAT - Edition of 1
Boitumelo Gaothlaelwe - Inbox VI - Mixed Medium - 26.1x38.5cm - 2019 - R2950.00 Incl.VAT - Edition of 1
Boitumelo Gaothlaelwe - Received - Mixed Medium - 29x42cm - 2019 - R2530.00 Incl.VAT - Edition of 1
Mamorena Malakoane Biography Malakoane was born 1989, in Johannesburg Soweto. In 2012, she completed her first year in Fine Arts at Funda Community Centre. In 2016, she graduated from Artist Proof Studio. Malakoane specialises in printmaking particularly in photolithography, etching, monotype and dry point techniques. During her time at Artist Proof Studio she has been involved in House Exhibitions, Art Fairs and Outreach Projects. She is currently the Saturday development programme facilitator at Artist Proof Studio and is actively pursuing a career in art and film making.
Statement I have approached my body of work as a film director. From the film-documentary, I selected stills as scenes to tell a narrative that contains hidden secrets. Each frame gives the viewer a setting to a narrative that is not clear. The spaces focus on an event that happened and have an element of truth. My works are a reflection of events that took place in my home, neighbourhood and spaces I have spent time that altered my physical and mental space. I present the viewer with a narrative of emptiness with a few obvious clues to the story. The images provide scenarios that the viewer can interpret for themselves. I have juxtaposed the photographic images using variety of colour to emphasise the contrast between the documentation and the ‘created’ mark. My work is the therapeutic reflection of self, how actions have reactions intentions creating the unintended. As, in Process art the transition is infinite yet peaceful abstracted from mind to matter. The titles of the work, use of colour and my editing of my personal story will direct the viewer to their own narrative and interpretation.
Mamorena Malakoane - A starry day on fields - Monotype - 71x99.3cm - 2019 - R4220.00 Incl.VAT - Edition of 1
Mamorena Malakoane - Apperception Synopsis - Monotype - 70.4x99.4cm - 2019 - R4220.00 Incl.VAT - Edition of 1
Mamorena Malakoane - Backward Before Time - Monotype - 26.1x19.4cm - 2019 - R800.00 Incl.VAT - Edition of 1
Mamorena Malakoane - Black Swan - Monotype - 46.8x34.5cm - 2019 - R2110.00 Incl.VAT - Edition of 1
Mamorena Malakoane - Briny’s Serenity - Monotype - 45.4x32.5cm - 2019 - R2110.00 Incl.VAT - Edition of 1
Mamorena Malakoane - Closer To The Moon - Monotype - 32x32cm - 2019 - R1480.00 Incl.VAT - Edition of 1
Mamorena Malakoane - Eclipse of the mind - Monotype - 23.3x34.9cm - 2019 - R800.00 Incl.VAT - Edition of 1
Mamorena Malakoane - Drenched Burghal - Monotype - 71x99.4cm - 2019 - R4220.00 Incl.VAT - Edition of 1
Mamorena Malakoane - Fields After Rain - Monotype - 18.8x22.6cm - 2019 - R800.00 Incl.VAT - Edition of 1
Mamorena Malakoane Fire On The Mountain Monotype 46.8x34.5cm 2019 R2110.00 Incl.VAT Edition of 1
Mamorena Malakoane Forgotten Dreams Monotype 21.4x16.6cm 2019 R800.00 Incl.VAT Edition of 1
Mamorena Malakoane Judgement Monotype 26x19cm 2019 R800.00 Incl.VAT Edition of 1
Mamorena Malakoane Lost World I Monotype 23.4x35cm 2019 R800.00 Incl.VAT Edition of 1
Mamorena Malakoane - Matricula Withdrawal - Monotype - 37.9x53.2cm - 2019 - R2640.00 Incl.VAT - Edition of 1
Mamorena Malakoane - Nature’s Apathy - Monotype - 26.1x18.8cm - 2019 - R800.00 Incl.VAT - Edition of 1
Mamorena Malakoane - Ocular View - Monotype - 30.9x37.9cm - 2019 - R1800.00 Incl.VAT - Edition of 1
Mamorena Malakoane - Optical Illusion II - Monotype - 46.8x34.5cm - 2019 - R2110.00 Incl.VAT - Edition of 1
Mamorena Malakoane - Paradoxial Pandemonium - Monotype - 18.5x22.3cm - 2019 - R800.00 Incl.VAT - Edition of 1
Mamorena Malakoane - Phenduka I - Monotype - 35x45.5cm - 2019 - R1480.00 Incl.VAT - Edition of 1
Mamorena Malakoane Raptor’s Obscurity Monotype 45.4x32.5cm 2019 R2110.00 Incl.VAT Edition of 1
Mamorena Malakoane Streaming In The Mist Monotype 45.4x32.5cm 2019 R2110.00 Incl.VAT Edition of 1
Mamorena Malakoane - Seven - Monotype - 18.5x22.8cm - 2019 - R800.00 Incl.VAT - Edition of 1
Mamorena Malakoane Strained Pane Humane Monotype 35.4x25cm 2019 R800.00 Incl.VAT Edition of 1
Mamorena Malakoane Visage of the lost Monotype 35.2x24.5cm 2019 R800.00 Incl.VAT
Mamorena Malakoane Window to the soul Monotype 21.7x17.3cm 2019 R800.00 Incl.VAT Edition of 1
Pule Ratsoma Biography Ratsoma was born in Tembisa, Gauteng. His interest in art grew more, in 2013 when he took part in an exhibition called “Black Like Us�. In 2015 he enrolled at Artist Proof Studio to study professional printmaking. During his 2nd Year Ratsoma took a break from his studies to work in the family business after the passing of his father, in Limpopo. He then returned to APS to complete his studies in 2017. He has been involved in community outreach projects, skills transfer workshops and social awareness campaigns. During his 2nd and 3rd Year, Ratsoma exhibited his work at the Turbine Art Fair as part of the Pierneef interpreted and Irma Stern still life with Strauss & co. He is currently working at the gallery as part of his 4th Year Internship Programme at Artist Proof Studio. After his studies he aspires to teach art and printmaking in rural areas and townships, and communities where art is less accessible.
Statement What meets the senses stirs the soul. Depression is one potential consequence of toxic social, cultural, and political system. My work continues to confront and interrogate factors transfixed within my abusive and violent Upbringing. The focus deepens beyond two dimensional and into the intrinsic nature of isolation, dependencies and all patterns I have experienced. My expressive approach, unpacks and deals with the cause and effect of chronological phases of constraints and other responsibilities, because to know truth is to feel it. As a process artist, I use my work as a therapeutic tool to challenge and voice my inner feelings, and also reflect the journey and impression of the human psyche.
Pule Ratsoma Blue In Green I Monotype 48.8x31.7cm 2019 R1480.00 Incl.VAT Edition of 1
Pule Ratsoma Blue In Green II Monotype 48.8x31.7cm 2019 R1480.00 Incl.VAT Edition of 1
Pule Ratsoma - Chilling Visions - Monotype - 100x70.5cm - 2019 - R5170.00 Incl.VAT - Edition of 1
Pule Ratsoma - Depth - Monotype - 76x112cm - 2019 - R6220.00 Incl.VAT - R6220.00 Incl.VAT - Edition of 1
Pule Ratsoma - ∞ KM - Monotype - 33x28.8cm - 2019 - R1160.00 Incl.VAT - Edition of 1
Pule Ratsoma - Lost Guest (Blue) - 71x50cm - 2019 - R3060.00 Incl.VAT - Edition of 1
Pule Ratsoma - Lost Guest (Green) - Monotype - 72.5x53.4cm - 2019 - R3060.00 Incl.VAT - Edition of 1
Pule Ratsoma - My heart will go - Monotype - 100x70.5cm - 2019 - R5170.00 Incl.VAT - Edition of 1
Pule Ratsoma - Narrow Valley - Monotype - 70x56.5cm - 2019 - R4010.00 Incl.VAT - Edition of 1
Pule Ratsoma - Phantom Train - Monotype - 100x70.5cm - 2019 - R5170.00 Incl.VAT - Edition of 1
Pule Ratsoma - Sounds of history - Monotype - 100x70.5cm - 2019 - R5170.00 Incl.VAT - Edition of 1
Pule Ratsoma Untitled I 66X49.2cm 2019 R2740.00 Incl.VAT Edition of 1
Pule Ratsoma Untitled II Monotype 66x49.2cm 2019 R2740.00 Incl.VAT Edition of 1
Pule Ratsoma - Veni - 50x35.2cm - 2019 - R2010.00 Incl.VAT - Edition of 1
Pule Ratsoma - Vici - 50x35.2cm - 2019 - R2010.00 Incl.VAT - Edition of 1
Pule Ratsoma - Vidi - 50x29.5cm - 2019 - R2010.00 Incl.VAT - Edition of 1