TO EMBRACE THE SHADOW IS THE JOURNEY OF THE SUN AND THE SOUL

Curated by Ruzy Rusike themelrosegallery.com

Wherethe spirit is connected to the world, the unconscious mind carries with it an ecological wisdom.

‘To embrace the shadow is the journey of the sun and the soul’ is an exhibition that seeks to define or better yet identify what sustainability means within an African ideology.. Ruzy Rusike, the curator, and participating artists felt the need to explore and recapture a sense of being embedded in nature and being in a condition of reciprocity with nature, which is found in traditional forms of healing and traditional ways of being with the world.

Taking place at The Melrose Gallery, Johannesburg, the curator has invited artists from the Caribbean, East Africa and Southern Africa to create an exhibition within an environment that transcends individualism, which is common in the Western world.

‘To embrace the shadow is the journey of the sun and the soul’ is an ethical message like the Ubuntu philosophy, “I am what I am because of what we all are.” We affirm our humanity when we acknowledge that no individual is complete without another. Therefore, Akilah Watts, Amita Makan, Andrea du Plessis, Bercia Roos, Francois Knoetze, Nindya Bucktowar, Nyakallo Maleke, , Pardon Mapondera, Regi Bardavid, Shalom Kufakwatenzi and Takudzwa Guzha have contributed to this exhibition not to respond to the definition of what it means when we talk about sustainability. Instead they respond to the intimacy of what it means to create an environment for human life and generational well-being, forming part of the process of nature that eliminates the ego, which puts us at the centre of the ecosystem. They, like nature, allow for the cycle of life, death and rebirth. When considering this cycle and sustainability one cannot ignore issues of poverty, rectification and racial injustice thereby acknowledging the fight for climate justice. . Whilst recognising that the core issue lies in our state of unconsciousness, that ignores the sensual aspects associated with living within and as a fundamental part of the landscape and nature herself. This exposes a profound grief that exists within humankind that is manifested or mirrored in Mother Nature.

This is what the exhibition is about. It is about facing the shadow and acknowledging that the consciousness of our being demands courage, determination, and choice. Integrating the unseen and unknown of ourselves (symbolised in the spiral and the journey of the sun and soul) or else the conscious self becomes a slave of the autonomous shadow.

Running from the 3rd March to 30th April, the exhibition will include a program of engagements starting with a walkabout on Saturday 4th of March at 11h30 for 12h00 rsvp to tyron@themelrosegallery.com

The exhibition will also be presented online and can be accessed from 03 March. Visit themelrosegallery.com

Exhibitions performances talks, presentations demonstrations, workshops food and wine, films and children’s events