“ABANDONMENT”
Explored through group exhibition at RK Contemporary Gallery www.rkcontemporary.com
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n evocative selection of artworks by renowned contemporary artists which explore the topic of “Abandonment” will be on exhibit at RK Contemporary gallery in Riebeek Kasteel from 3 – 24 November 2019. Owner and curator Astrid McLeod invited selected artists to submit two-dimensional paintings that explore the visual and social significance of abandonment – asking them to delve into the beauty of the absent and the intrigue of the neglected, discarded and deserted. “This has resulted in a diverse collection of artworks from artists Anthony Harris, Willem Pretorius, Danielle Jordaan, and Chris Kriek,” explains McLeod. “Each of them have a very different take on abandonment.” Landscape artist Anthony Harris, who has chosen abandoned land as his subject matter, says that he uses the landscape as a metaphor. “My work explores the complexity of the terrain in ways that challenge the viewers’ own boundaries. These landscapes hold within them aspects other than pure nature the panorama is composed of elements that bear witness to change and evolution.” Willem Pretorius, who has been a top 40 finalist in Sanlam’s Portrait Awards four times (2013, 2015, 2017,2019), has created a series of work that portray abandoned homes, swimming pools and buildings. The subject of his work is mainly concerned with the decay and abandonment of places within the South African Platteland.
Willem Pretorius, Abandoned Pool, Nelspoort’, 54 x 3cm, oil on canvas, (Detail)
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