CORPS DE P@GES

Jean David Nkot At The Melrose Gallery

www.themelrosegallery.com

Jean David Nkot explores the plight of the ‘common man’ in his first solo to be presented in South Africa. The exhibition is accompanied by an exhibition text written by Simon Njami.

This powerful body of paintings navigates the exploitation of the populations of the developing world by those who come in search of wealth, possessions, and power.

The artist feels compelled to bring attention to how the body and nature are often the victims in our search for industrialisation and the belief in a purely capitalistic economic model.

Nkot aims to give a voice to the people who despite their enormous contribution and sacrifice of their own health and wealth remain in the shadows with little say in terms of their future and that of their families, communities, or country.

Vast fortunes are built on their sweat with little thought given to improving their plight as it is in this very poverty, lack of education and subjugation of thought and spirit that they are forced to continue to work for the wealthy and the powerful.

Jean David Nkot, www.connected body.fr, 2022 Acrylic, silkscreen on canvas, 300 x 200cm

By presenting the figures in his work as contemporary icons, he invites us to reconsider their status, as important and valuable contributors to society and as such we should recognise that their opinions on the future should not be ignored, subjugated, or looked down upon.

The artist has a deep sensitivity towards humanity and nature, and he views them as interdependent and not separate and that the protection of one, enables the conservation of the other. He notes that the capitalists and industrialists not only abuse the poor but also nature and the very -planet that they call home. “Jean-David Nkot is above all, at least for the moment, a painter. His work, even when it contains elements of abstraction, is essentially figurative, obsessed with the body and its representation. The black body, is it necessary to specify it. Or perhaps, after all, it is necessary to present it, because in this detail perhaps nestles a hidden truth: Nkot, since his first paintings, paints and depicts himself”. – Excerpt from the exhibition text by Simon Njami

In CORPS DE P@GES, Nkot lovingly presents the human form in different poses, each as a living being, each with their own story, each part of contemporary history, and a contributor and window to society.

Bodies speak, they love, they argue, they cry, they despair and throughout they hope for a better future for them and theirs. Nkot calls on us to recognise and respect and value not only our fellow man, but all living things.

The ‘@’ symbol, and the titles of the artworks represent website domains and email addresses thereby bringing further attention to the power of the internet, the role that it plays in controlling society and restricting free thought through the desire to fit in to preconceived notions of what is right and what is wrong, what is good and what is bad.

Nkot was born in Doula, Cameroon, where he still lives and works. It is fitting that his solo CORPS DE P@GES is to be presented in Johannesburg, South Africa. Despite being known as the ‘city of gold’, Johannesburg has one of the highest disparities of income in the world. Informal settlements, where vast portions of the population live in abject poverty, can be found within 10km’s of some of the wealthiest real estate in Africa. In 2010, he qualified with an A-level in painting at the Institute of Artistic Training of Mbalmayo (IFA) before joining the Institute of Fine Arts Foumban, where he obtained a degree in drawing/painting. In 2017 he joined the Post Master Moving Frontiers organized by the National School of Arts of Paris-Cergy (France) on the theme of borders. Throughout

Jean David Nkot, Po.Box. weight of technology.com, 2022, Acrylic, silkscreen on canvas, 299 x 206 cm

his training in the fine arts of Foumban, he received several artistic distinctions (Best sculptor, installer and painter). Conscious of the value of his elders he is frequently in the workshops of Hervé Youmbi, Salifou Lindou, Jean Jacques Kanté, Pascal Kenfack and Ruth Belinga. The exhibition runs at The Melrose Gallery at Melrose Arch in Johannesburg from 10 November until 18 December 2022. For those unable to attend the exhibition in person, you will be able to access the online viewing room on www.themelrosegallery.com from 11 November.

COUNTDOWN TO PORTRAIT AWARD 2023

The Blue Cactus - Spain Artist Residency With Andrè Serfontein, Portrait Award 2021 Residency Prize Recipient

The longer you are surrounded by the Spanish landscape, the more beautiful it becomes. The light and landscape changes constantly, and you notice a new wonder with each passing day. These elements start to subconsciously influence your work, making it possible to experiment anew during the creative process.

Iarrived in Barcelona, in September of this year, and was met by Elton Faber (Investment Consultant and director of The CoArt), who co-sponsored the Artist Residency at The Blue Cactus, newly introduced as a prize in the 2021 National Portrait Award Competition (organized by Rust-en-Vrede Gallery in Durbanville). He was very helpful in sharing information on Barcelona, which I planned to traverse in search of art materials I meant to make use of during my residency. After making my purchases Elton accompanied me to the train station and made sure I boarded the correct train. (He was always available to help with valuable insight and advice during my 4-week stay in this beautiful country.) 30 Minutes by train later I arrived at a town named Villa Franca, where I met with Julian Arendt, owner of The Blue Cactus Artist Residency, and co-sponsor of the Portrait Award Residency prize. Julian is a retired architect, who is now pursuing sculpture. He initiated this Residency program which is designed to enfold the artist in the natural world.

I stocked up on some fresh supplies before we made our way to the beautiful rural residency, located in 12 acres of stunning countryside in the Alt Penedes, my new home for the next couple of weeks. When Julian showed me around, introducing me to the facilities, I immediately felt inspired and at ease by the idyllic surrounds. My room had the most amazing views of the majestic Montserrat mountain, and exploring the property yielded a plethora of natural treasures amongst pine forests, vineyards, almond-, olive - and fig trees.

The studios are set up in a way to allow artists to work either inside or outside in nature. They are equipped with various tools to aid in the

creation process, including easels, desks, turning tables, electric chisels and more. Other facilities included a communal kitchen, outdoor area for social gatherings - And the swimming pool was not off bounds, it could be used, but restricted to certain times due to the drought.

My mornings started at around 7 am. I enjoyed a cup of coffee and explored the farm, enjoying the changing scenery and fresh country air. I took a sketchbook with me on these outings in case I felt inspired by the landscape. Some days I made use of the small plein air studio, which was nestled amongst the foliage, but most of my time was spent in the spacious painting studio - perfect for creating larger works of art. In the afternoons I would sometimes take a siesta to recharge, but I tried to make use of the studio most of the time, sometimes working until quite late.

A few artists joined the residency for a brief period, including local painter and sculptor Dani Buch, Israeli Sculptor Stav Yosaha and Juan Conde, a graffiti artist originally from Uruguay. During their stay, we started cooking together, and ended up having supper late at night, after a full day of creating and conversing. As a group, we took a daytrip together to Montserrat, and visited castle ruins near the farm. In fact, I made time to visit nearby villages as a break from painting. Sant Quinti de Mediona is but a mere 20-minute walk or cycle away. Julian went into town often, and kindly offered the option of a lift when needed. One of the highlights was being able to experience the Sant Quinti de Mediona Corefoc (Fire Runs) Festival. This is celebrated as a symbolic expelling of the devil from town; with firecrackers dousing raucous revelers in a steady stream of sparks. Experiencing other cultures’ traditions and way of life is priceless. The people of rural Spain are jovial and although most can’t speak fluent English, they always try their best to help and be accommodating.

All in all, it was an unforgettable experience. It was freeing to be able to focus on making, with the only worry being where to get my coffee fix. I initially panicked that I was not going to be able to produce enough work while on the Residency, but decided to rather focus on experimenting and exploration, rather than focus on pure production. Once I consciously made this decision, I was able to enjoy my experiences and allow this wonderful opportunity to inspire and help me grow as an artist. I was able to create more than enough work and enjoy the wonders rural Spain had to offer.

Andrè Serfontein is a multidisciplinary artist, mostly specializing in the human figure. He has been a top finalist in three of the previous Portrait Award competitions, placing third in 2019 with his portrait entry titled ‘Oliver’.

For more information on the Residency program: www.blue-cactus.org/ For more information on the upcoming 2023 Portrait Award: www.rust-en-vrede.com/portrait-award